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IMAGING FOR RESIDENTS – QUIZ
Year : 2022  |  Volume : 30  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 312-313

Multiple cerebral abnormalities at third-trimester ultrasound scan in an uncomplicated pregnancy


Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, Porto, Portugal

Date of Submission27-Mar-2021
Date of Decision05-May-2021
Date of Acceptance20-May-2021
Date of Web Publication24-Jul-2021

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Fabiana Castro
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, Avenida do Hospital Padre Américo, No. 210, 4564-007, Penafiel, Porto
Portugal
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/JMU.JMU_64_21

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How to cite this article:
Castro F, Carvalho AP, Rocha J, Marinho C, Rodrigues G. Multiple cerebral abnormalities at third-trimester ultrasound scan in an uncomplicated pregnancy. J Med Ultrasound 2022;30:312-3

How to cite this URL:
Castro F, Carvalho AP, Rocha J, Marinho C, Rodrigues G. Multiple cerebral abnormalities at third-trimester ultrasound scan in an uncomplicated pregnancy. J Med Ultrasound [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 22];30:312-3. Available from: http://www.jmuonline.org/text.asp?2022/30/4/312/322279




  Section 1 – Quiz Top


Case description

A 31-year-old pregnant woman, multigravida (G3P2), was referred to our outpatient department at 30 weeks of gestation for abnormal growth pattern at the mid-trimester ultrasound scan (3rd centile) performed at 20 weeks and 5 days of gestation despite normal morphology of the fetus for this stage.

Previous pregnancies were uneventful. Early antenatal care was managed at primary care. First-trimester ultrasound and combined screening demonstrated no anomalies and a reduced risk for aneuploidies. At her 1st- and 2nd-trimester antenatal screens, executed according to national policies, she was noted to be Rhesus positive, negative for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis. She was also found to lack immunity for the Rubella virus and Toxoplasmosis. Screening for gestational diabetes was negative.

At 31 weeks and 5 days, an ultrasound at our department revealed ventriculomegaly affecting the 3rd, 4th and lateral ventricles [Figure 1] with hyperechogenic ventricular walls [Figure 2]. At the posterior fossa, a hyperechogenic cerebellum with an apparent loss of substance was observed [Figure 3]. A review of the remaining fetal anatomy also evidenced the presence of a Grade 2 echogenic bowel [Figure 4]. The fetus had a standard amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight was 1672 g, corresponding to the 24th centile. The placenta was posterior, with no relation with internal cervical os and normal in appearance. Fetal Doppler and biophysical profile were normal.
Figure 1: Third and lateral ventricles dilation (* symbol) of fetal brain in axial (a) and corporal (b) planes (31w5d)

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Figure 2: Axial plane of fetal brain. Lateral ventricles measuring 10.35 mm showing ventriculomegaly with hyperechogenic ventricular walls at 31w5d scan

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Figure 3: Axial plane of posterior fossa showing loss of cerebellar substance and an increased cisterna magna with 15 mm

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Figure 4: Grade 2 echogenic bowel (white arrow) noted at 31w5d scan

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At this visit, multiple diagnostic approaches were considered, and amniocentesis was offered. Karyotype, array comparative genomic hybridization, and infectious screening were carried out in the amniotic fluid as was TORCH (Toxoplasmosis, Other [syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19], Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes infections) seroconversion investigated in maternal serum.

For further characterization of the ultrasound findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the fetal brain was suggested. MRI was performed at 32 weeks and 5 days and demonstrated ventriculomegaly without subjective signs of hydrocephaly. Multiple periventricular calcified foci, bilateral temporal cysts, and extensive polymicrogyria were identified in cerebral hemispheres, and a cerebellar vermis hypoplasia was revealed [Figure 5].
Figure 5: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging at 32w5d exhibiting hydrocephaly (red star), periventricular calcified foci (yellow arrow), and cerebellar vermis hypoplasia (blue arrow)

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  What Is the Diagnosis? Top


Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient has given her consent for her images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understands that her name and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal the identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.




    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5]



 

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