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Prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida: The fetal head shape as a clue

D. Hauschild^I; T.R. Gollop^I; A. Eigier^I; J. Guidugli Neto^II

^IServiço de Genética Humana da Associação Maternidade de São Paulo, Rua Ofélia, 248, 05423 São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to T.R.G.
^IIServiço de Anatomia Patológica do Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 665/ 701, 05652 São Paulo, SP, Brasil

ABSTRACT

During a routine ultrasonography in the 24th week of pregnancy on a 22-year-old primigravida, the fetus was found to have an abnormal head shape. We repeated the ultrasonography in the 26th week and confirmed the narrowing of the anterior cranium and a spina bifida in the lumbo - sacral region. Both anomalies were confirmed in the anatomopathologic study after termination of pregnancy.

Keywords: Prenatal; Spina bifida; Head shape.

REFERENCES

Chambers, S.E., Muir, B.B. and Bell, J.E. (1988). "Bullet"-shape head in fetuses with spina bifida: A pointer to the spinal lesion. J. Clin. Ultrasound 161: 25-28.

Elejalde, M.M. and Elejalde, E.R. (1985). Visualization of the fetal spine: A proposal of standard system to increase reliability. Am. J. Med. Genet. 21: 445-456.

Furness, M.E., Barbary, J.E. and Verco, P.W. (1987). Fetal head shape in spina bifida in the second trimester. J. Clin. Ultrasound 15:451-453.