Fetal Ventriculomegaly and Hydrocephalus - What Shouldn't be Missed on Imaging?

• Published in: Neurology India Vol. 69; no. 8; pp. 294 - 300
• Main Authors: Sira, Liat, Kozyrev, Danil, Bashat, Dafna, Constantini, Shlomi, Roth, Jonathan, Shiran, Shelly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.11.2021; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Brain; Diagnosis; Female; Fetus - diagnostic imaging; Fetuses; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Hydrocephalus - diagnostic imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Methods; Neuroimaging; Pediatric research; Pregnancy; Prenatal diagnosis; Prognosis; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Ventricles; Israel; Congenital hydrocephalus; fetal MRI; hydrocephalus; ventriculomegaly Key Messages: Fetal ventriculomegaly is an entity that can coexist with other brain abnormalities. Identification and understanding of the pathogenesis of these abnormalities is a key factor for future prognosis. The radiological approach helps to understand clinical course prediction and therapeutic efficacy of hydrocephalus in the fetus; MRI; ventriculomegaly
• ISSN: 0028-3886; 1998-4022
• DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.332286

Fetal ventriculomegaly is one of the most frequently diagnosed abnormalities detected prenatally. The finding of additional subtle abnormalities can facilitate accurate prognoses, which may range from normal outcomes to significant neurodevelopmental sequelae. Pathogenesis and imaging patterns of ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus in the fetus based on the pattern-recognition approach using fetal MRI are reviewed in this paper. This radiological approach may shed light on clinical course prediction and therapeutic efficacy of hydrocephalus in the fetus.