Patient's question:
I am 27 years old, my first pregnancy was in November 2011, and I had a D&C surgery for fetal demise in February 2012.Now I am pregnant for the second time, and it is a twin pregnancy.
16W+4, Down syndrome screening AFP 2.68 (normal range: 0.7-2.5)
23W+2, 4D ultrasound
Ultrasound findings:
Breech position fetus with bilateral lateral ventricle critical high values, respectively 7.7mm (L), 6.5mm (R)
Excessive amniotic fluid, depth: 47+62+64+67
Doctor's answer:
The width of the lateral ventricle of the fetus is less than 1 cm, which is normal. A width of 1-1.2 cm usually resolves on its own. A width of 1-1.5 cm is considered mild. In reality, the most important indicator for diagnosing hydrocephalus is spina bifida. A width of more than 1.5 cm is considered abnormal. The widening of the lateral ventricles is mostly caused by excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the fetus. Most of the time, the fetus can absorb it on its own in the later stages. You can have another ultrasound in a few weeks to see if the ventricles continue to widen. Also, if the lateral ventricles are too wide, the doctor may suspect hydrocephalus. In addition to ventricular widening, a clear accompanying symptom of hydrocephalus is spina bifida. Spina bifida can be examined with an MRI. If there is none, the fetus should be healthy.