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DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1071249
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Pre-Natal Diagnosis of Occult Spinal Dysraphism by Ultrasonography and Post-Natal Evaluation by MR Scanning
Publikationsverlauf
Publikationsdatum:
25. März 2008 (online)
Abstract
Eight children born with occult spinal dysraphism were diagnosed in utero by ultrasonography. Post-natally, they were evaluated by MR scans. The ultrasound scans in all 8 fetuses revealed a spina bifida: the spinal cord was long in 5 and in 3 a meningocele was thought to be present, however, in 1, a post-natal MR scan revealed a lipomeningocele instead of a simple meningocele. In 3 fetuses an echogenic area was seen on the ultrasound scan which raised the possibility that an intradural lipoma was present, and was confirmed by post-natal MR scans. In 3 fetuses vertebral body anomalies and an additional ossification centre in a midline bony spur together with widening of the spinal canal were seen in the lower lumbar region. The lesions in all 8 fetuses were skin-covered. None had ventriculomegaly or an Arnold-Chiari malformation.
The prognosis for fetuses with spina bifida aperta is well documented in contrast to that for those with spina bifida occulta. The ability to identify a spinal dysraphic lesion pre-natally allows a more accurate assessment to be made of the likely outcome for an individual fetus.
Key words
Fetal diagnosis - Occult spinal dysraphism - Pre-natal ultrasonography - Post-natal MR scanning