Will the enlarged lateral ventricle be absorbed? Classification and prevention of lateral ventriculomegaly

Enlargement of the lateral ventricles is a symptom that occurs during the fetal period. The main reason for this symptom is excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the fetus, which will generally be absorbed by the baby later. Ventriculomegaly is mainly divided into three types: severe ventriculomegaly, mild ventriculomegaly, and isolated mild ventriculomegaly. Pregnant women can prevent the occurrence of this symptom through certain methods. Below, we will introduce the classification and prevention methods of lateral ventricle enlargement.

Will the enlarged lateral ventricle be absorbed?

The normal size of the fetal lateral ventricle should be less than 1 cm. The widening of the lateral ventricle is mostly caused by excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the fetus, which can be absorbed by itself in the later stages of the fetus. Do an ultrasound every few weeks to see if it continues to widen. Another point is that if the lateral ventricle widens too much, the doctor will suspect hydrocephalus. In addition to the widening of the ventricle, another obvious accompanying symptom of hydrocephalus is spina bifida. So when doing an ultrasound, let the doctor help you see clearly whether the fetus has spina bifida. If not, the fetus should be healthy.

Classification of ventriculomegaly

1. Severe ventriculomegaly: (ventricle width ≥ 15 mm, also known as hydrocephalus) refers to excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system, expansion of the lateral ventricle system, increased pressure, and ventriculomegaly during ultrasound examination. Generally, if the trigone of the lateral ventricle widens by 1.5 cm, it is considered ventricle enlargement, and the wider the area, the more serious the enlargement. If the triangle is 1.2 to 1.4 cm wide and the choroid plexus occupies more than 50% of the ventricle, it is generally considered normal. If the choroid plexus is shrunk and becomes suspended, hydrocephalus is considered to be present.

2. Mild ventriculomegaly: defined as the diameter of the lateral ventricle ≥10mm and ≤15mm. A lateral ventricle diameter of <10 mm is considered to be within the normal physiological range.

3. Isolated mild ventriculomegaly: refers to cases in which no other abnormalities are found in prenatal systematic ultrasound examination. About 10% of fetuses with isolated mild ventriculomegaly have chromosomal abnormalities, the most common of which is trisomy 21. Viral infection during pregnancy, especially cytomegalovirus infection in late pregnancy, can also often lead to abnormal manifestations such as isolated ventriculomegaly and paraventricular mixed echoes.

Preventive Care

Prognosis: The clinical manifestations of congenital diseases of the nervous system vary, and the severity of the disease varies. In severe cases, the baby cannot survive after birth. In most cases, the family will not discover the abnormality until some time after birth, so the prognosis varies greatly.

Prevention: Pay attention to maternal and infant perinatal care and neonatal feeding care to prevent premature birth, low birth weight, intrapartum hypoxia and asphyxia, and postpartum jaundice.