Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2005 Nov;48(11):2541-2549.

Factors Related with Intracranial Signs in Fetuses with Open Neural Tube Defect

• Kim GJ
• Lee ES
• Kim DH
• Lee SH
• Park JD
• Park MH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
There are two types of spina bifida aperta: cystic type and flat type. Unruptured cystic sac of spina bifida may interfere free leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into amnionic fluid space. Therefore its presence could influence the appearance of the intracranial signs on prenatal ultrasound. The purpose of this study was to define the ultrasound findings causing the appearance of indirect intracranial signs.
METHODS
Twenty-one fetuses with spina bifida were evaluated from Jan/1998 to March/2004. Incidence of indirect cranial signs (changes of ventricular width, morphologic change of cerebellum, obliteration of cisterna magna, decreased biparietal diameter and lemon sign) were evaluated according to gestational age at diagnosis, size, location and morphology of the spinal lesion.
RESULTS
Meningeal sac was visible in 10 cases (48%), flat form in 11 cases (52%) on prenatal ultrasound. All of the intracranial signs seemed to appear more frequently on flat spina bifida, but there were no statistical significance.
CONCLUSION
It seems like that the presence of the sac in spina bifida aperta did not interfere the appearance of intracranial signs on prenatal ultrasound.

Keyword

Intracrnial sign; Spina bifida; Meningeal sac

MeSH Terms

Amnion
Cerebellum
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cisterna Magna
Diagnosis
Fetus*
Gestational Age
Incidence
Neural Tube Defects*
Neural Tube*
Spina Bifida Cystica
Spinal Dysraphism
Ultrasonography