fetal schizencephaly

Fetal schizencephaly refers to schizencephaly diagnosed in utero. Usually only open lips types can be diagnosed antenatally.

Radiographic features

Antenatal ultrasound

• may show a unilateral or bilateral defect extending from the pial surface to the ventricular wall
• there may be other features such as
  • absent cavum septum pellucidum
  • occasional fetal hydrocephalus

Fetal MRI

• fetal MRI is performed to confirm the cleft is grey matter lined which distinguishes this entity from porencephalic cyst
• it is more sensitive at detecting close lip schizencephaly than ultrasound
• it is also useful to confirm the presence of associated anomalies

Practical points

Similar abnormalities in the posterior fossa are called cerebellar clefts, and may occur simultaneously with fetal schizencephaly.

Siehe auch:

• Schizenzephalie
• congenital hydrocephalus