Proximal fetal cerebral ventricle: description of US technique and initial results.

PURPOSE

To establish adequacy and ease of visualization of the proximal ventricle, normal range of measurements of the proximal ventricle, and distance of the proximal choroid plexus from the lateral ventricular wall.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

With use of an angled technique, ultrasound (US) evaluation of the proximal fetal ventricle was attempted in 439 fetuses during routine obstetric US examination. Ease of examination, additional time required, mean measurements, and standard deviation (SD) were calculated.

RESULTS

Visualization and measurement of the proximal ventricle were performed without difficulty in 77% of cases and with difficulty in 19%, and were impossible in 4%. Average additional time required was 4.2 minutes. The upper limit of normal for the midportion of the proximal ventricle was 8 mm (mean + 2.5 SD). In no normal pregnancy was the proximal ventricle separated from the choroid plexus by greater than 3 mm.

CONCLUSION

Visualization and measurement of the proximal fetal cerebral ventricle can be performed during routine obstetric US examination in little additional time and can be used to detect abnormalities that might otherwise be overlooked because of fetal position.