Fetal hydrocephalus: Pathology, prenatal diagnosis, prognosis and management

• Published in: The ultrasound review of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 3; no. 2; p. 81
• Main Authors: D'Addario, V, E Di Naro, L Di Cagno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boca Raton Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.06.2003
• Subjects: Disease management; Fetuses; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 1472-2240; 1743-8950

Fetal hydrocephalus is a heterogeneous disease resulting from different pathological entitities. The main causes of congenital hydrocephalus are aqueductal stenosis, Chiari II malformation and Dandy-Walker complex. Ventricular dilatation without increased pressure frequently complicates agenesis of the corpus callosum. Ventriculomegoly is easily recognized by ultrasound by measuring the atrial width. This simple measure allows the recognition of mild forms of ventricular dilatation and is used as a screening method for ventriculomegaly. However, although the diagnosis of ventriculomegaly is easy, the prenatal identification of the cause of ventricular dilatation is more difficult. To this purpose, the evaluation of the posterior fosso is a useful landmark. The research into the cause of hydrocepholus is clinically useful, since the prognosis mainly depends on the etiology of hydrocepholus and on the presence of associated anomalies. In this article, the etiology of congenital hydrocepholus is reviewed the role of prenatal sonogrophy in diagnosing ventriculomegaly and in recognizing the cause of the ventricular dilatation is discussed, as well as the prognostic value of the prenatal sonographic diagnosis. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]