How to Say It: Fee-tul Venn-trick-u-low-meg-uh-lee
Fetal ventriculomegaly is the widening of the fluid-filled spaces of the brain. These are called the ventricles. It happens in babies before they are born.
It may be caused by problems with how the brain grows. It may also be caused by the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord. It should move smoothly. If its flow is slowed or stopped, it can put pressure on the ventricles and make them get bigger.
Things that may raise the risk of this problem in a child are:
Certain infections of the pregnant mother can raise the risk. These are:
After birth, a child may have:
This health problem is often found during an ultrasound before the baby is born. More testing may be done by specialists and after birth.
Before birth, the baby’s health may be checked with:
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Sometimes this problem gets better on its own. The baby's health will be monitored.
If the problem gets worse, other methods will be needed to drain the fluid. This can be done by placing a ventriculoperitoneal shunt after the child is born.
There are no known guidelines to prevent this health problem.
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
http://www.acog.org
Women’s Health—US Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.womenshealth.gov
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org
Craig A, Lober R, et al. Complex fetal care: Implications of fetal ventriculomegaly: a neurosurgical perspective. NeoReviews. 2015;16;e254. Available at: http://neoreviews.aappublications.org/content/16/4/e254. Accessed November 4, 2020.
Hydrocephalus in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hydrocephalus-in-children. Accessed November 4, 2020.
Pediatric ventriculomegaly. Children’s National Health System website. Available at: http://childrensnational.org/choose-childrens/conditions-and-treatments/fetal-carepregnancy/ventriculomegaly. Accessed November 4, 2020.
Ventriculomegaly and hydrocephaly. Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital website. Available at: http://childrens.memorialhermann.org/conditions/ventriculomegaly-and-hydrocephaly. Accessed November 4, 2020.
Ventriculomegaly in children. Boston Children’s Hospital website. Available at: http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/ventriculomegaly. Accessed November 4, 2020.
Wright Z, Larrew TW, et al. Pediatric Hydrocephalus: Current State of Diagnosis and Treatment. Pediatr Rev. 2016 Nov;37(11):478-490.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kari Kassir, MD Last Updated: 5/11/2021
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