An evaluation of the in utero neurosurgical treatment of ventriculomegaly.

Clinical results for in utero treatment of ventriculomegaly are not impressive; results may improve, however, with new techniques and more experience. Nonetheless, even in the best of hands, it is not always possible to identify associated and sometimes fatal congenital abnormalities on high resolution obstetric ultrasonograms, and not enough is known of the natural history of CNS congenital disease, in particular of ventriculomegaly, to select the appropriate fetus for in utero treatment. Results of animal studies are encouraging, but more work is needed to define the pathophysiology, knowledge of which might allow selection of the appropriate fetus and treatment modality.