This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Leitner, Y. Articles by Harel, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Leitner, Y. Articles by Harel, S. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Antenatal Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Anomalies: Can We Predict Prognosis?

Institute for Child Development and Pediatric Neurology Unit Tel Aviv, Israel, leitnerl{at}bezeqint.net

Helli Goez, MD

Institute for Child Development and Pediatric Neurology Unit Tel Aviv, Israel, The Ultrasound Unit Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haemek Regional Hospital, Afula, Israel

Ilan Gull, MD

Ultrasound Unit Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. Israel

Ronit Mesterman, MD

Institute for Child Development and Pediatric Neurology Unit Tel Aviv, Israel

Ehud Weiner, MD

The Ultrasound Unit Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haemek Regional Hospital, Afula, Israel

Ariel Jaffa, MD

Ultrasound Unit Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. Israel

Shaul Harel, MD

Institute for Child Development and Pediatric Neurology Unit Tel Aviv, Israel

Our technical ability to diagnose fetal anomalies of the central nervous system by ultrasonography and by fetal magnetic resonance imaging far exceeds our current knowledge of their possible neurodevelopmental implications later in life. This limitation often makes obstetric and clinical decisions very difficult. We retrospectively reviewed the ultrasonographic records of 6220 women who had been followed up at two large medical centers between 1994 and 1999. One hundred and sixty (2.6%) women had abnormal fetal central nervous system findings. The neurodevelopmental outcome of these children was assessed by a telephone interview with the parents. Small cerebellar size was the most frequent anomaly, followed by isolated mild ventriculomegaly and isolated choroid plexus pathology. Suboptimal neurodevelopmental outcome was found in 24% of children with isolated ventriculomegaly and in 9% with choroid plexus pathology. In the group of children with a "small cerebellum," suboptimal neurodevelopment was found in 19%. The measurement of transcerebellar diameter in respect to its developmental implication is, to our knowledge, described here for the first time. We believe that cerebellar measurements and their possible neurocognitive implications should be an integral part of future studies. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:435-438).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Limperopoulos, R. L. Robertson Jr., O. S. Khwaja, C. D. Robson, J. A. Estroff, C. Barnewolt, D. Levine, D. Morash, L. Nemes, L. Zaccagnini, et al. How Accurately Does Current Fetal Imaging Identify Posterior Fossa Anomalies? Am. J. Roentgenol., June 1, 2008; 190(6): 1637 - 1643. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]