What is isolated ventriculomegaly?
Isolated mild ventriculomegaly (MVM) is a prenatal disorder characterized by the enlargement of the lateral ventricles in the absence of associated fetal anomalies (14–16).
What is bilateral ventriculomegaly?
Ventriculomegaly is a condition in which the ventricles appear larger than normal on a prenatal ultrasound. This can occur when CSF becomes trapped in the spaces, causing them to grow larger. Ventricles develop early in pregnancy and can be seen on a prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester, at about the 15th week.
Should I worry about ventriculomegaly?
Outcomes for babies with ventriculomegaly depend on both the cause of the ventriculomegaly and whether it is progressive or not. Most children with mild, nonprogressive cases that do not involve brain damage or developmental anomalies will not have any long-term health effects. More severe cases may need surgery.
What causes isolated ventriculomegaly?
Pathogenesis: In the majority of cases, isolated cerebral lateral ventriculomegaly is the consequence of an obstruction along the normal pathway of the cerebrospinal fluid (obstructive hydrocephalus).
Does ventriculomegaly go away?
If your child has mildly enlarged brain ventricles or ventriculomegaly without other complications, the condition may resolve on its own. When hydrocephalus is more severe or progresses, timely treatment is important.
Are babies born with ventriculomegaly?
Fetal ventriculomegaly occurs in approximately one in every 1,000 births, and in roughly half of the cases, there are no other findings or abnormalities in the baby.
Is ventriculomegaly a birth defect?
Fetal ventriculomegaly is a congenital finding that affects the brain. The contents of the brain consist primarily of brain tissue, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Can ventriculomegaly be cured?
Can ventriculomegaly go away?
It is benign in up to 90% of cases, although it can be associated with genetic, structural, and neurocognitive disorders. The literature suggests that over 40% of isolated mild ventriculomegaly will resolve in utero, but it is unclear if resolution decreases the associated risks.
Should I worry about mild ventriculomegaly?
After a complete evaluation, if the ventriculomegaly is mild and isolated, the outcome is most commonly normal. With isolated moderate ventriculomegaly of 13–15 mm, after a complete evaluation, the outcome is likely to be favorable, but there is an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disabilities.
What causes ventriculomegaly in fetus?
The most common structural causes of fetal ventriculomegaly include aqueductal stenosis, Chiari malformation type II, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, and abnormalities of the posterior fossa [13,14].
Can babies with mild ventriculomegaly go away?
If your child has mildly enlarged brain ventricles or ventriculomegaly without other complications, the condition may resolve on its own.
How is ventriculomegaly treated in fetus?
There is no treatment before birth for fetuses with ventriculomegaly. Treatment after birth involves managing the child’s symptoms. It is important during your pregnancy to get a detailed diagnosis (via detailed ultrasound, amniocentesis, and MRI) in order to determine if there are any additional problems.
How quickly does ventriculomegaly progress?
The mean rate of progression in the mild group was 1.07 (SD 1.03) mm/week, whereas in the moderate group progression was at a mean rate of 1.41 (SD 0.77) mm/week. Progression of severe ventriculomegaly was significantly higher at a mean rate of 3.26 (SD 2.92) mm/week (p = 0.007).