Keywords
ultrasonography - fetus - ventricle - ventriculomegaly - reference range
Palavras-chave
ultrassonografia - feto - ventrículo - ventriculomegalia - intervalo de referência
Introduction
Ventriculomegaly (VM) refers to dilatation of the cerebral ventricles. This may be
associated with normal, larger, or smaller heads than expected for menstrual age.[1] Hydrocephalus, however, refers to enlarged ventricles associated with increased
intracranial pressure and/head enlargement[1] or ventriculomegaly of obstructive cause.[2] Ventriculomegaly has a significant adverse effect on fetal outcome; it may be associated
with other congenital anomalies,[2] an has a prevalence of ∼ 0.3–22 per 1,000 live births.[3]
Previously established cut-off values of fetal cerebral lateral ventricles (FCLVs)
dimensions are: normal (< 10 mm), mild/borderline VM (10–12 mm), moderate VM (13–15
mm), and severe VM (> 15 mm).[4] However, there is no consensus regarding these cut-off values, as some authors simply
classify FCLV atrial diameters of 10–15 mm as mild VM, and those greater than 15 mm
as severe VM.[4]
[5] Previously established reference ranges[6] of FCLV documented only the atrial width (AW). Recently, new parameters such as
the choroid plexus/lateral ventricle diameter ratio, the choroid plexus/lateral ventricle
length ratio, and the choroid plexus/lateral ventricle area ratio were described as
helpful in assessing ventriculomegaly at 11–14 weeks of gestational age.[7] The importance of these measurements is to ensure consistency and accuracy of diagnosing
fetal VM. The known causes of fetal VM are diverse, and there is also a wide spectrum
of possible neurodevelopmental outcomes.[5]
[8]
[9]
[10] The aim of this study is to establish gestational age-based reference ranges for
the FCLV, AW, ventricle-to-choroid (V-C) measurement, ventricle-to-hemisphere ratio
(VHR), and combined anterior horn measurement (CAHM).
Methods
Study Design and Study Population
This prospective, cross-sectional study was performed on 400 consecutively recruited
singleton pregnant women at 14 to 40 weeks of gestational age. They were referred
from the antenatal clinic for routine prenatal fetal ultrasound at the Radiology Department
of the institution between July 2012 and June 2013. The local Ethics and Research
Committee approved the study protocol, and informed consent was obtained from all
the participants.
Data Collection
Demographic parameters, including age, last menstrual period and parity, were obtained
from all subjects. Subjects with multiple gestations, fetal congenital anomalies,
maternal chronic hypertension, maternal diabetes mellitus, irregular menstrual periods,
suspected intrauterine growth retardation, brachycephaly (short-headedness, with a
cephalic index of 80.0–84.9),[11] dolichocephaly (long-headedness, with a cephalic index of 70.0–74.9),[11] oligohydramnios (single largest amniotic fluid pocket devoid of fetal parts or cord ≤ 2
cm in anteroposterior extent),[12] and polyhydramnios (single largest amniotic fluid pocket devoid of fetal parts or
cord > 8 cm in anteroposterior extent)[12] were excluded from the study. Other relevant data were extracted from the subjects'
medical records to confirm their eligibility for the study.
Sonographic Evaluation
A MINDRAY® real-time ultrasound scanner model DC 7 (Shenzhen Mindray Bio-medical Electronics,
Nanshan, Shenzhen, China) with a 3.5-5 MHZ curvilinear transducer was used to evaluate
all subjects by the first author, who had more than 5 years' experience in Obstetrics
sonography. Each subject was scanned only once during the study. Each patient was
put in supine position on the examination couch with a slight left lateral tilt, and
coupling gel was applied to the abdomen to reduce acoustic impedance. Routine obstetric
sonography was done first for each subject to determine the number of fetuses, gestational
age, fetal weight, and to exclude fetal malformations and placental abnormalities.
Estimation of the fetal weight was done automatically by the scanner by computing
the biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC)
and femur length (FL), as incorporated in the Hadlock's four-parameter formula[13]: Log 10 Weight = 1.3596–0.00386 AC × FL + 0.0064 HC + 0.00061 BPD × AC + 0.0424 AC + 0.174
FL.
The fetal perineum was then evaluated to determine the gender. Visualization of the
testis in the scrotum confirmed a male fetus. Gender determination in the early second
trimester was done as described by Whitlow et al.[14] Thereafter, the fetal head was scanned to obtain an axial image of the lateral ventricle
farthest from the transducer, with the ultrasound beam directed approximately perpendicular
to the long axis of the ventricle. This is the transventricular plane, which is just
above the transthalamic/BPD plane. It demonstrates the anterior and posterior portions
of the lateral ventricles and the echogenic glomus of the choroid plexus within the
atrium. All FCLV parameters were taken in this plane/view ([Fig. 1]).
Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of the axial transventricular ultrasound image of a fetal brain
showing the landmarks for obtaining measurements. 1. Atrial width (AW): A–B. 2. Ventricle-to-choroid
measurement (V-C): C. 3. Ventricle to hemispheric ratio (VHR): DE/DF. 4. Combined
anterior horn measurement (CAHM): G–H. 5. DE: Lateral ventricular width (LVW). 6.
DF: Cerebral hemisphere width (CHW). 7. CSP: Cavum septum pellucidum.
Adjustment of the ultrasound gain and other settings was done for each patient to
optimize the image. Freeze frame ultrasonographic capabilities and electronic on-screen
calipers were used for all measurements. All fetal biometric and FCLV parameters (except
V-C measurements) were successfully determined in all fetuses. The lateral ventricular
atrium was completely filled by the choroid plexus in 50 fetuses; thus, only 350 fetuses
had values for V-C measurements.
Data were reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables. The
degrees of correlation between FCLV parameters and estimated gestational age (EGA)
were obtained using Pearson's correlation. Regression equations were used to generate
the reference limits for the FCLV measurements. Statistical significance was set at
p < 0.05. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA)
software, version 16.0 for Windows was used for data analysis.
Results
A total of 400 pregnant subjects with normal singleton pregnancies were recruited.
The maternal age ranged from 17–42 years with a mean age of 29.93 ± 4.84 years. Forty
two subjects (10.5%) were in the < 25-year age group; 136 subjects (34%) were aged
between 25 and 29 years; and 155 subjects (38%) were in the 30–34 years age bracket.
The remaining 67 subjects (16.8%) were 35 years and above. There were 54 (13.5%) primigravid
subjects, 342 (85.5%) multigravid (2–5 children) subjects, and 4 (1%) grand-multigravid
(> 5 children) subjects.
The gestational ages of the fetuses ranged from 14 to 40 weeks, with a median age
of 30.0 weeks. One hundred and forty eight (37%) male and 252 (63%) female fetuses
were evaluated. Fetuses in the second trimester constituted 38% (n = 152) of the study group, while those in the third trimester constituted 62% (n = 248). The mean values of the AW, V-C measurement, CAHM, and VHR were 6.69 ± 1.03 mm,
1.55 ± 0.44 mm, 17.71 ± 4.48 mm and 49.96 ± 6.99% respectively. Only 350 fetuses had
values for V-C measurements because the lateral ventricular atrium was completely
filled by the choroid plexus in 50 (12.5%) fetuses. All FCLV parameters had statistically
significant Pearson's correlation with EGA (p = 0.000), with r values of 0.338 for AW, 0.331 for V-C, 0.832 for CAHM, and -0.84
for VHR. The AW of male fetuses was significantly larger than that of female fetuses
([Table 1]).
Table 1
Fetal gender differences in FCLV measurements
Parameter
|
Mean ± SD
|
t
|
df
|
p
|
Male
(n = 148)
|
Female
(n = 252)
|
AW (mm)
|
6.85 ± 1.03
|
6.60 ± 1.03
|
2.333
|
398
|
0.020
|
V-C (mm)
|
[*]1.55 ± 0.43
|
[**]1.56 ± 0.44
|
-0.168
|
348
|
0.867
|
CAHM (mm)
|
17.79 ± 4.40
|
17.67 ± 4.22
|
0.287
|
398
|
0.774
|
VHR (%)
|
50.52 ± 6.68
|
49.63 ± 7.15
|
1.238
|
398
|
0.216
|
Abbreviations: AW, atrial width; CAHM, combined anterior horn measurement; df, degree
of freedom; FCLV, fetal cerebral lateral ventricle; SD, standard deviantion; t, t-statistic;
V-C, ventricle-to-choroid measurement; VHR, ventricle-to-hemisphere ratio.
* n = 126;
** n = 224.
Linear regression was the optimal model that described the effect of gestational age
on the FCLV parameters recorded from our sample population. As the data were slightly
skewed, the median (also called the 50th percentile) was used as a measure of central
tendency for each gestational age-specific FCLV parameter. The corresponding 5th and
95th percentiles were determined subsequently ([Table 2]). [Tables 3], [4], [5] and [6] show the reference ranges for the AW, VC, CAHM and VHR respectively according to
EGA. The scatter plots of the FCLV parameters according to EGA are shown in [Figs. 2]
[3]
[4]
[5]. These plot-fitted percentile graphs show weak positive linear correlations of EGA
with AW (R2 = 0.114) and with VC (R2 = 0.266). The CAHM had a strong positive linear correlation (R2 = 0.692), while VHR had a strong negative correlation (R2 = 0.706).
Fig. 2 Scatter plot of AW versus estimated gestational age (EGA), with the 5th, 50th and
95th percentile values.
Fig. 3 Scatter plot of V-C measurement versus EGA, with the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile
values.
Fig. 4 Scatter plot of CAHM versus EGA, with the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile values.
Fig. 5 Scatter plot of VHR versus EGA, with the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile values.
Table 2
Regression equations used for the generation of reference limits
AW
|
5th Percentile
|
AW = 4.347 + 0.041 * EGA
|
50th Percentile
|
AW = 5.032 + 0.059 * EGA
|
95th Percentile
|
AW = 6.007 + 0.070 * EGA
|
CAHM
|
5th Percentile
|
CAHM = 3.871 + 0.374 * EGA
|
50th Percentile
|
CAHM = 3.321 + 0.488 * EGA
|
95th Percentile
|
CAHM = 3.737 + 0.588 * EGA
|
V-C
|
5th Percentile
|
VC = 0.7207 + 0.012 * EGA
|
50th Percentile
|
VC = 0.734 + 0.027 * EGA
|
95th Percentile
|
VC = 1.024 + 0.036 * EGA
|
VHR
|
5th Percentile
|
VHR = 69.401 - 0.864 * EGA
|
50th Percentile
|
VHR = 73.368 - 0.809 * EGA
|
95th Percentile
|
VHR = 77.288 - 0.759 * EGA
|
LVW
|
5th Percentile
|
LVW = 3.391 + 0.378 * EGA
|
50th Percentile
|
LVW = 3.195 + 0.465 * EGA
|
95th Percentile
|
LVW = 3.408 + 0.534 * EGA
|
CHW
|
5th Percentile
|
CHW = - 6.728 + 1.328 * EGA
|
50th Percentile
|
CHW = - 4.665 + 1.352 * EGA
|
95th Percentile
|
CHW = - 5.584 + 1.497 * EGA
|
Abbreviations: AW, atrial width; CAHM, combined anterior horn measurement; CHW, cerebral
hemisphere width; EGA, estimated gestational age; LVW, lateral ventricular width;
V-C, ventricle-to-choroid measurement; VHR, ventricle-to-hemisphere ratio.
Table 3
Nomogram of AW according to EGA
EGA (week)
|
N
|
AW (mm)
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Percentiles
|
5th
|
50th
|
95th
|
14
|
4
|
6.60
|
0.94
|
4.93
|
5.86
|
6.99
|
15
|
10
|
6.39
|
0.62
|
4.97
|
5.92
|
7.06
|
16
|
8
|
6.80
|
0.68
|
5.01
|
5.98
|
7.13
|
17
|
18
|
6.40
|
0.99
|
5.05
|
6.04
|
7.20
|
18
|
3
|
5.97
|
0.90
|
5.09
|
6.10
|
7.27
|
19
|
10
|
6.81
|
0.93
|
5.13
|
6.15
|
7.34
|
20
|
8
|
6.50
|
0.63
|
5.17
|
6.21
|
7.41
|
21
|
12
|
6.28
|
0.54
|
5.21
|
6.27
|
7.48
|
22
|
16
|
6.13
|
0.93
|
5.26
|
6.33
|
7.55
|
23
|
14
|
6.21
|
0.95
|
5.30
|
6.39
|
7.62
|
24
|
18
|
6.09
|
0.77
|
5.34
|
6.45
|
7.69
|
25
|
13
|
6.03
|
0.96
|
5.38
|
6.51
|
7.76
|
26
|
18
|
5.58
|
0.68
|
5.42
|
6.57
|
7.83
|
27
|
6
|
5.95
|
0.52
|
5.46
|
6.63
|
7.90
|
28
|
18
|
6.50
|
0.90
|
5.50
|
6.69
|
7.97
|
29
|
13
|
6.47
|
0.85
|
5.55
|
6.75
|
8.04
|
30
|
25
|
6.78
|
0.80
|
5.59
|
6.80
|
8.11
|
31
|
28
|
6.81
|
1.03
|
5.63
|
6.86
|
8.18
|
32
|
20
|
6.81
|
0.82
|
5.67
|
6.92
|
8.25
|
33
|
24
|
6.87
|
0.76
|
5.71
|
6.98
|
8.33
|
34
|
14
|
7.12
|
1.23
|
5.75
|
7.04
|
8.40
|
35
|
24
|
7.36
|
1.04
|
5.79
|
7.10
|
8.47
|
36
|
26
|
7.95
|
0.90
|
5.83
|
7.16
|
8.54
|
37
|
20
|
6.91
|
1.12
|
5.88
|
7.22
|
8.61
|
38
|
10
|
6.55
|
0.99
|
5.92
|
7.28
|
8.68
|
39
|
18
|
6.99
|
0.65
|
5.96
|
7.34
|
8.75
|
40
|
2
|
9.75
|
0.07
|
6.00
|
7.40
|
8.82
|
Abbreviations: AW, atrial width; EGA, estimated gestational age; SD, standard deviation.
Table 4
Nomogram of V-C dimension according to EGA
EGA (week)
|
N
|
V-C (mm)
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Percentiles
|
5th
|
50th
|
95th
|
14
|
4
|
0.80
|
0.00
|
0.89
|
1.12
|
1.53
|
15
|
4
|
1.30
|
0.35
|
0.90
|
1.14
|
1.57
|
16
|
2
|
1.05
|
0.07
|
0.91
|
1.17
|
1.61
|
17
|
14
|
1.34
|
0.41
|
0.93
|
1.20
|
1.64
|
18
|
3
|
1.47
|
0.47
|
0.94
|
1.23
|
1.68
|
19
|
8
|
1.63
|
0.86
|
0.95
|
1.25
|
1.72
|
20
|
8
|
1.39
|
0.20
|
0.96
|
1.28
|
1.75
|
21
|
8
|
1.35
|
0.18
|
0.97
|
1.31
|
1.79
|
22
|
8
|
1.00
|
0.11
|
0.99
|
1.33
|
1.82
|
23
|
10
|
1.40
|
0.32
|
1.00
|
1.36
|
1.86
|
24
|
8
|
1.28
|
0.57
|
1.01
|
1.39
|
1.9
|
25
|
13
|
1.32
|
0.35
|
1.02
|
1.42
|
1.93
|
26
|
14
|
1.49
|
0.43
|
1.03
|
1.44
|
1.97
|
27
|
4
|
1.83
|
0.43
|
1.05
|
1.47
|
2.01
|
28
|
18
|
1.44
|
0.31
|
1.06
|
1.50
|
2.04
|
29
|
13
|
1.60
|
0.35
|
1.07
|
1.52
|
2.08
|
30
|
25
|
1.60
|
0.41
|
1.08
|
1.55
|
2.12
|
31
|
28
|
1.56
|
0.42
|
1.09
|
1.58
|
2.15
|
32
|
20
|
1.85
|
0.32
|
1.11
|
1.61
|
2.19
|
33
|
24
|
1.55
|
0.31
|
1.12
|
1.63
|
2.22
|
34
|
14
|
1.76
|
0.50
|
1.13
|
1.66
|
2.26
|
35
|
24
|
1.69
|
0.45
|
1.14
|
1.69
|
2.3
|
36
|
26
|
1.78
|
0.35
|
1.15
|
1.72
|
2.33
|
37
|
20
|
1.58
|
0.54
|
1.17
|
1.74
|
2.37
|
38
|
10
|
1.49
|
0.33
|
1.18
|
1.77
|
2.41
|
39
|
18
|
1.73
|
0.35
|
1.19
|
1.80
|
2.44
|
40
|
2
|
1.90
|
0.14
|
1.20
|
1.82
|
2.48
|
Abbreviations: EGA, estimated gestational age; SD, standard deviation; V-C, ventricle-to-choroid
measurement.
Table 5
Nomogram of CAHM according to EGA
EGA (week)
|
N
|
CAHM (mm)
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Percentiles
|
5th
|
50th
|
95th
|
14
|
4
|
6.95
|
0.06
|
9.10
|
10.16
|
11.97
|
15
|
10
|
9.28
|
1.54
|
9.47
|
10.64
|
12.56
|
16
|
8
|
13.39
|
4.04
|
9.85
|
11.13
|
13.15
|
17
|
18
|
13.68
|
1.96
|
10.22
|
11.62
|
13.74
|
18
|
3
|
15.00
|
0.87
|
10.59
|
12.11
|
14.33
|
19
|
10
|
12.01
|
1.65
|
10.97
|
12.60
|
14.92
|
20
|
8
|
12.60
|
1.24
|
11.34
|
13.09
|
15.51
|
21
|
12
|
14.57
|
1.80
|
11.72
|
13.57
|
16.09
|
22
|
16
|
13.61
|
0.92
|
12.09
|
14.06
|
16.68
|
23
|
14
|
14.17
|
2.08
|
12.46
|
14.55
|
17.27
|
24
|
18
|
14.54
|
1.98
|
12.84
|
15.04
|
17.86
|
25
|
13
|
14.69
|
1.12
|
13.21
|
15.53
|
18.45
|
26
|
18
|
16.64
|
1.27
|
13.58
|
16.02
|
19.04
|
27
|
6
|
16.37
|
0.49
|
13.96
|
16.50
|
19.62
|
28
|
18
|
16.63
|
1.64
|
14.33
|
16.99
|
20.21
|
29
|
13
|
17.17
|
1.11
|
14.70
|
17.48
|
20.80
|
30
|
25
|
18.84
|
2.31
|
15.08
|
17.97
|
21.39
|
31
|
28
|
19.68
|
2.24
|
15.45
|
18.46
|
21.98
|
32
|
20
|
19.90
|
1.85
|
15.82
|
18.94
|
22.57
|
33
|
24
|
19.69
|
2.39
|
16.20
|
19.43
|
23.15
|
34
|
14
|
20.29
|
2.00
|
16.57
|
19.92
|
23.74
|
35
|
24
|
20.69
|
1.95
|
16.95
|
20.41
|
24.33
|
36
|
26
|
22.83
|
2.59
|
17.32
|
20.90
|
24.92
|
37
|
20
|
23.07
|
4.02
|
17.69
|
21.39
|
25.51
|
38
|
10
|
22.10
|
1.52
|
18.07
|
21.87
|
26.10
|
39
|
18
|
21.85
|
3.51
|
18.44
|
22.36
|
26.68
|
40
|
2
|
19.50
|
3.54
|
18.81
|
22.85
|
27.27
|
Abbreviations: CAHM, combined anterior horn measurement; EGA, estimated gestational
age; SD, standard deviation.
Table 6
Nomogram of VHR according to EGA
EGA (week)
|
N
|
VHR (%)
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Percentiles
|
5th
|
50th
|
95th
|
14
|
4
|
61.20
|
1.60
|
57.31
|
62.04
|
66.66
|
15
|
10
|
64.43
|
5.39
|
56.45
|
61.23
|
65.90
|
16
|
8
|
61.12
|
1.48
|
55.58
|
60.42
|
65.14
|
17
|
18
|
62.34
|
4.48
|
54.72
|
59.61
|
64.38
|
18
|
3
|
58.37
|
1.40
|
53.86
|
58.81
|
63.63
|
19
|
10
|
59.41
|
4.79
|
52.99
|
58.00
|
62.87
|
20
|
8
|
54.93
|
2.70
|
52.13
|
57.19
|
62.11
|
21
|
12
|
54.42
|
4.45
|
51.26
|
56.38
|
61.35
|
22
|
16
|
56.21
|
3.96
|
50.40
|
55.57
|
60.59
|
23
|
14
|
51.41
|
2.72
|
49.54
|
54.76
|
59.83
|
24
|
18
|
52.18
|
2.92
|
48.67
|
53.95
|
59.07
|
25
|
13
|
53.05
|
3.21
|
47.81
|
53.14
|
58.31
|
26
|
18
|
52.15
|
2.78
|
46.95
|
52.33
|
57.55
|
27
|
6
|
51.87
|
5.93
|
46.08
|
51.52
|
56.79
|
28
|
18
|
50.86
|
3.18
|
45.22
|
50.72
|
56.03
|
29
|
13
|
49.76
|
3.44
|
44.35
|
49.91
|
55.28
|
30
|
25
|
48.61
|
3.33
|
43.49
|
49.10
|
54.52
|
31
|
28
|
46.73
|
4.14
|
42.63
|
48.29
|
53.76
|
32
|
20
|
46.97
|
2.96
|
41.76
|
47.48
|
53.00
|
33
|
24
|
47.02
|
3.41
|
40.90
|
46.67
|
52.24
|
34
|
14
|
45.13
|
3.59
|
40.04
|
45.86
|
51.48
|
35
|
24
|
44.28
|
4.22
|
39.17
|
45.05
|
50.72
|
36
|
26
|
44.55
|
3.52
|
38.31
|
44.24
|
49.96
|
37
|
20
|
42.54
|
4.02
|
37.45
|
43.43
|
49.20
|
38
|
10
|
43.08
|
3.99
|
36.58
|
42.63
|
48.44
|
39
|
18
|
41.67
|
3.86
|
35.72
|
41.82
|
47.69
|
40
|
2
|
42.84
|
2.91
|
34.85
|
41.01
|
46.93
|
Abbreviations: EGA, estimated gestational age; SD, standard deviation; VHR, ventricle-to-hemisphere
ratio.
Discussion
Evaluation of the cerebral ventricular system is an integral part of all standard
routine fetal sonographic examinations. Fetal VM can be isolated or associated with
other congenital anomalies.[5] Isolated fetal ventriculomegaly is the most common cerebral anomaly detected during
routine prenatal pregnancy scans,[15] and is a significant risk factor for developmental delay in children.[15] It is important to visualize both lateral ventricles so as to not miss cases of
bilateral VM.[16] Ventriculomegaly is an indicator of poor fetal outcome; thus, it is important to
establish the normal variations of the cerebral ventricular parameters.[17]
This study found that the ventricular AW, V-C, CAHM and VHR show statistically significant
correlations with the fetal EGA.
The mean AW of this study (6.69 ± 1.03 mm) can be compared to the mean value reported
by other investigators.[17]
[18]
[19]
[20] Hilpert et al[17] documented a mean AW of 6.5 ± 1.5 mm using a mid-to-mid measurement technique because
they could not distinguish the inner wall from the outer wall of the thin atrial margin.
Cardoza et al[21] reported a mean AW of 7.6 mm, which is much higher than that of the current study.
This disparity could have resulted from their measurement technique: the atrium was
measured by placing the cursor on the periphery of the lateral ventricular echogenic
walls (outer-to-outer), in contrast with the inner medial to inner lateral walls method
used in the present study. Furthermore, multiple sonologists were involved in their
sonographic data acquisition, which could have introduced more errors in establishing
the mean atrial size. Their sample size was also significantly smaller (100 fetuses,
compared with 400 fetuses) than the sample size of this study. Cardoza et al[21] suggested 10 mm as the upper cut-off for the atrial width, corresponding to 4 SDs
above their mean value. Several other studies have supported the use of 10 mm as the
upper limit of the ventricular atrial width, which often corresponds to 2.5 to 4 SDs
above the mean.[4]
There were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) marginal differences between the mean CAHM, V-C, and VHR of male and female
fetuses. However, atrial width was significantly larger (p = 0.020) in the male fetuses (6.85 ± 1.03 mm) compared with the female fetuses (6.60 ± 1.03
mm). This is similar to the findings of Patel et al[18] in California, who also evaluated more female fetuses (female: male ratio [F:M] = 1.26:1),
as in this study (F:M = 1.7:1), and found a mean atrial width of 5.8 ± 1.3 mm for
females and of 6.4 ± 1.3 mm for males (p < 0.05). This finding may have implications for defining the upper limits of normal
for the different genders. However, Pistorius[22] found that the atrium was 0.2 mm smaller in male fetuses on average. The reason
for this is not clear. Determination of gender in the early second trimester was quite
challenging at times, and some of the fetuses were reexamined 4 to 6 weeks after the
initial assessment.
The mean V-C measurement in this study increased from 0.80 mm at 14 weeks to 1.90 mm
at 40 weeks, as shown in [Table 4]. This is in agreement with the findings of other investigators.[19]
[23] Mahony et al[24] defined lateral ventriculomegaly beyond 15 weeks as a 3 mm or more separation between
the atrial choroid plexus and the ventricular wall, with a 1–2 mm separation in normal
fetuses. Similarly, Hertzberg et al[23] also observed that a separation of 3 mm or more in the V-C measurement is associated
with increased abnormal outcome in populations of fetuses with normal-sized ventricles.
The VHR is an invaluable tool for the serial monitoring of the growth rate of the
ventricles relative to the surrounding cerebral tissue. Therefore, it is useful in
providing the early prenatal diagnosis of VM/hydrocephalus. Other investigators[25]
[26] demonstrated a steady decrease in VHR from 14/15 weeks to term, which they ascribed
to the relatively more rapid growth of the cerebral hemispheres compared with cerebral
ventricular growth. As a result of this steady change, VHR is said to be of greater
diagnostic value than lateral ventricular width.
The current study shows a statistically significant steady decline of VHR throughout
gestation from a mean of 61.20% at 14 weeks to 42.84% at 40 weeks. This is similar
to the pattern of decline reported by Pilu et al,[25] though they had a value of 50% at term. However, D'Addario and Kurjak[27] and Johnson et al[26] recorded a decline in mean VHR from 61 and 56% respectively at 14/15 weeks to mean
values of 29 and 28% respectively at 27 weeks (compared with 51% in the index study),
which remained unchanged till term. Pilu et al[25] noted that the diagnosis of VM should be made with caution in the second trimester
because the ventricles occupy a relatively large portion of the intracranial volume,
and VHR range is large. Thus, serial ultrasound with no change or an increase in VHR
during this period is needed to confirm the diagnosis of VM or hydrocephalus beyond
reasonable doubt.
When a diagnosis of isolated mild VM is made, serial antenatal ultrasonography is
necessary to monitor for worsening of the ventricular dilatation and late appearance
of associated brain anomalies not detected earlier.[16]
In conclusion, real time B-mode transabdominal ultrasonography is a valuable tool
for investigating fetal cerebral lateral ventricles. Both qualitative and quantitative
parameters should be employed in the evaluation of fetal cerebral ventricles. Absolute
threshold values of ventricular parameters should not be interpreted strictly, but
should serve as a guideline to allow for the identification of fetuses that need closer
monitoring of the fetal brain.