FETAL BRAIN SHRINKAGE: A RARE, MYSTIFYING ANOMALY

Abstract

Objective: Brain shrinkage in fetal life is a dismal, misunderstood anomaly. In this report, we described a rare case of severe brain shrinkage diagnosed in the 25th weeks of gestation complicated with fetal anemia and ascites. Case Report: We detected polyhydramnios, ascites and severe brain anomaly in the fetus. Although the head circumference was normal; the brain tissue was atrophic and positioned in the center of the skull. The two cerebral hemispheres were adequately developed. Subarachnoid space was much extended, and the surface of the brain was smooth. Also, we detected severe fetal anemia. Perinatal infectious diseases were excluded. Fetal cranial MRI confirmed the brain shrinkage and TOP were performed. Conclusion: We showed a unique fetal brain malformation which comprises intracranial shrinkage and extreme subarachnoid space wideness without microcephaly. It is not well recognized in the literature, and the etiology is unclear.

Keywords

• Brain
• fetus
• MRI
• prenatal diagnosis
• ultrasonography

FETAL BEYİN BÜZÜŞMESİ, NADİR, İLGİ ÇEKİCİ BİR ANOMALİ

Abstract

Amaç: Fetal hayatta gerçekleşen beyin büzüşmesi iyi anlaşılamamış, kötü bir anomalidir. Bu vaka sunumunda fetal anemi ve asitle komplike olmuş ve 25. haftada tanı almış ciddi bir beyin büzüşmesi anomalisini tanımladık. Vaka Sunumu: Fetüste polihidramniyos, asit ve ağır bir beyin anomalisi saptadık. Kafa çevresi normal sınırlarda olmasına rağmen; beyin dokusu atrofikti ve kafatasının ortasında yerleşmişti. Her iki hemisfer yeterli ölçüde gelişmişti. Subaraknoid mesafe oldukça genişti ve beyin yüzeyi düzleşmişti. Ayrıca fetüste ağır anemi saptadık. Perinatal enfeksiyonlar dışlandı. Fetal MRI beyin büzüşmesini doğruladı ve aileye gebeliğin terminasyon seçeneği sunuldu. Sonuç: Mikrosefali eşlik etmeksizin beyin büzüşmesi ve aşırı genişlemiş subaraknoid mesafe ile tanımlanan nadir bir beyin malformasyonunu gösterdik. Bu anomali literatürde yeteri kadar tanımlanmamıştır ve etiyolojisi henüz aydınlatılamamıştır.

Keywords

• Beyin
• fetüs
• MRI
• prenatal tanı
• ultrasonografi

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