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Significance of isolated borderline ventriculomegaly

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Abstract

Purpose

Foetal ventriculomegaly (VM) is one of the most commonly diagnosed brain abnormalities. The aims of this study were to assess cases with isolated VM, describe the prenatal course and assess short- and long-term follow-up at the age of 2 years.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis from our prenatal data base and included all children that were prenatally diagnosed with VM in our unit between 2008 and 2013 (n = 250). Prenatal management, postnatal outcome and neurologic development at the age of 2 years were evaluated.

Results

A total of 106 children were born at our institution and were diagnosed prenatally with isolated borderline VM. A total of 1.9% (n = 2/106) was transferred to the neonatal unit. A total of 0.9% (n = 1/106) showed abnormal findings in postnatal brain ultrasound. A total of 1.9% (n = 2/106) showed mild neurologic abnormalities after birth, but none had to be seen by a neuropediatrician. At the follow-up at 2 years, 2.5% (n = 1/40) had an insertion of a shunt.

Conclusion

Based on our analysis, the majority of isolated borderline VM do not show short- or long-term neurological abnormalities. However, all cases of VM should be referred to a detailed prenatal ultrasound exam by a specialist.

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Abbreviations

VM:

Ventriculomegaly

TORCH:

Toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus 2 and other infections

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

IUFD:

Intrauterine fetal death

IUGR:

Intrauterine growth restriction

WKS:

gestational week

CMV:

Cytomegalovirus

KIGGS:

Studie zur Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Prenatal Diagnostics and Gynecologic Ultrasound, Women’s Hospital, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

    Katrin Tomic, Heidrun Schönberger, Olav Lapaire & Gwendolin Manegold-Brauer

  2. Division of Neuro- and Developmental Paediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland

    Peter Weber

Authors
  1. Katrin Tomic
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  2. Heidrun Schönberger
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  3. Peter Weber
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  4. Olav Lapaire
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  5. Gwendolin Manegold-Brauer
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Correspondence to Gwendolin Manegold-Brauer.

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Tomic, K., Schönberger, H., Weber, P. et al. Significance of isolated borderline ventriculomegaly. Childs Nerv Syst 36, 393–399 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-019-04189-x

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