[Development of the fetal lateral ventricles and their sonographic identification during pregnancy. I].

A prerequisite for the ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis of hydrocephalus is knowledge of the normal shape and position of the foetal lateral ventricles as well as of the range of variability between normal and pathological development. A model of the lateral ventricles of an 38-weeks old foetus was constructed. It was then tested by ultrasonographic examination in 6 transverse sections on foetuses having a biparietal diameter of 90-95 mm. In this way three ventricular parameters could be established for normal as well as for hydrocephalic development during foetal life.