A newborn with D-transposition of the great vessels was evaluated by cranial US. Abnormal gray and white matter cross the midline at the expected location of the body of the corpus callosum (Fig. 1, arrow). Only an intact genu and splenium of the corpus callosum were identified, and the septum pellucidum was absent. Syntelencephaly was suggested. The subsequent MRI confirms an abnormal gray matter connection of the cerebral hemispheres (arrows) (Fig. 2, black arrowhead = genu, white arrowhead = splenium) and also shows an azygous artery and partially absent falx. Other common findings of syntelencephaly (also referred to as the middle interhemispheric variant of holoprosencephaly) such as sylvian fissure continuity across the vertex midline and dorsal cyst were not seen [1].

Fig. 1
figure 1

Coronal US image

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Sagittal T2-W SSFSE MRI

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The key imaging feature in all forms of holoprosencephaly, is a degree of failed separation of the cerebral hemispheres. The noncleavage of syntelencephaly affects the posterior frontal and parietal lobes versus the more anterior frontal lobes and deep gray nuclei in lobar holoprosencephaly [2].