Fetal MRI is reliable in detecting rare brain deformities in unborn babies. Incomplete brain developmental deformities such as holoprosencephaly have been found to be detected in pregnancy as early as 18 gestational weeks.
Accurately diagnosing holoprosencephaly is vital because the degree of severity of the brain malformation correlates with heightened risk of fetal and neonatal demise and intellectual disability among surviving children, the study authors write.
Ultrasound During Pregnancy
Ultrasound during pregnancy is a non-invasive procedure and is an integral part of the fetal monitoring during the pregnancy.
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‘Early detection of crippling deformities such as holoprosencephaly can help counsel parents earlier in pregnancy and help them make a fully informed decision.’
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One of a series of fetal and postnatal MRI images captured by Children's National Health System faculty is featured on the journal's cover.
By about week five to six of pregnancy, the embryonic forebrain (prosencephalon) cleaves into two cerebral hemispheres. Holoprosencephaly is an incomplete separation of those cerebral hemispheres and occurs in 1.2 to 2.2 of every 10,000 live births. The brain defect is associated with genetic and environmental risk factors, including gestational diabetes, lower education level and aspirin use during pregnancy.
![Colombia Reports First Two Cases of Zika-Linked Microcephaly]( "Colombia Reports First Two Cases of Zika-Linked Microcephaly")
Colombian health authorities reported the country's first two cases of microcephaly associated with Zika.
According to the study team, an expanded spectrum of holoprosencephaly disease phenotypes and milder variants have been identified, including: Aprosencephaly/atelencephaly, considered the most severe form, which can be accompanied by a range of facial deformities.
Alobar, a variant that is associated with a single, midline forebrain and a holosphere shaped like a pancake, cup or a ball.
Middle interhemispheric, which is marked by normal separation of the frontal and occipital poles but lack of separation in portions of the more posterior aspects of the frontal lobes and parietal lobes. Craniofacial defects have not been described in patients with this variant.
Semilobar, which occurs when the anterior aspect of the cerebral hemispheres do not separate while some portions of the posterior hemispheres show separation. The noncleaved frontal lobes are usually small. Craniofacial defects are usually less severe than what is seen with the alobar variant.
Lobar, which is characterized by less severe anatomical brain defects than the alobar and semilobar variants. Typically more than half of the total volume of the frontal lobes should be separated to qualify as lobar holoprosencephaly.
Ultrasound can diagnose the most severe forms of holoprosencephaly based on abnormal facial features, among other findings. For instance, fetal sonography can detect facial abnormalities associated with holoprosencephaly, such as lateral facial cleft.
However, some prenatal ultrasounds do not clearly distinguish between severe holoprosencephaly and other brain abnormalities, such as an excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (severe hydrocephalus). While ultrasounds can provide more clarity by 24 weeks gestation, that leaves families little time to develop multidisciplinary care plans for infants likely to be born with complex care needs.
"Using fetal MRI, holoprosencephaly and its severity can be accurately established by 18 weeks of gestation and, in some cases, in fetuses as young as 16 weeks," says Youssef A. Kousa, M.S., D.O., Ph.D., a child neurology fellow at Children's National and the study's lead author. "Because of the strong link between the severity of brain abnormality and clinical outcomes, such early and accurate imaging is important for counseling families. Our findings and our detailed descriptions of the differences between disease variants should help to inform these important conversations during complicated pregnancies."
Source: Eurekalert
Colombia Reports First Two Cases of Zika-Linked Microcephaly
Colombian health authorities reported the country's first two cases of microcephaly associated with Zika.
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According to the study team, an expanded spectrum of holoprosencephaly disease phenotypes and milder variants have been identified, including: Aprosencephaly/atelencephaly, considered the most severe form, which can be accompanied by a range of facial deformities.
Alobar, a variant that is associated with a single, midline forebrain and a holosphere shaped like a pancake, cup or a ball.
Middle interhemispheric, which is marked by normal separation of the frontal and occipital poles but lack of separation in portions of the more posterior aspects of the frontal lobes and parietal lobes. Craniofacial defects have not been described in patients with this variant.
Semilobar, which occurs when the anterior aspect of the cerebral hemispheres do not separate while some portions of the posterior hemispheres show separation. The noncleaved frontal lobes are usually small. Craniofacial defects are usually less severe than what is seen with the alobar variant.
Lobar, which is characterized by less severe anatomical brain defects than the alobar and semilobar variants. Typically more than half of the total volume of the frontal lobes should be separated to qualify as lobar holoprosencephaly.
Ultrasound can diagnose the most severe forms of holoprosencephaly based on abnormal facial features, among other findings. For instance, fetal sonography can detect facial abnormalities associated with holoprosencephaly, such as lateral facial cleft.
However, some prenatal ultrasounds do not clearly distinguish between severe holoprosencephaly and other brain abnormalities, such as an excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (severe hydrocephalus). While ultrasounds can provide more clarity by 24 weeks gestation, that leaves families little time to develop multidisciplinary care plans for infants likely to be born with complex care needs.
"Using fetal MRI, holoprosencephaly and its severity can be accurately established by 18 weeks of gestation and, in some cases, in fetuses as young as 16 weeks," says Youssef A. Kousa, M.S., D.O., Ph.D., a child neurology fellow at Children's National and the study's lead author. "Because of the strong link between the severity of brain abnormality and clinical outcomes, such early and accurate imaging is important for counseling families. Our findings and our detailed descriptions of the differences between disease variants should help to inform these important conversations during complicated pregnancies."
Source: Eurekalert
Anencephaly
Anencephaly is a neural tube defect (NTD), in which a baby is born with an underdeveloped brain and skull. Major portions of the brain may be missing or completely absent. Sadly, there is no treatment for this condition.
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 PlagiocephalyPlagiocephaly is a common craniofacial condition seen in babies characterized by an asymmetrical flattening of one side of the skull. | Advertisement
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