Cerebral cortical malformations are common causes of neurodevelopmental delay and epilepsy and include a wide range of antenatal neurogenesis disorders. Abnormal cell proliferation leads to microcephaly or megalencephaly, incomplete neuronal migration results in heterotopia and lissencephaly, neuronal overmigration manifests as cobblestone malformations, and anomalous postmigrational cortical organization is responsible for polymicrogyria (PMG) and schizencephaly. Although corticogenesis occurs early, these rare pathologies are associated with late onset during pregnancy, which does not allow their early prenatal recognition. This review aims to give an update of current knowledge of these insidious cerebral cortical disorders. How to cite this article Capuano P, Cialdella M, D’Addario V. Malformations of Cortical Development. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2017;11(4):308-313.
Ultrasound (US) is a useful tool to evaluate the normal morphology, the developmental changes, and the malformations of the fetal central nervous system (CNS). The development of the fetal CNS is a complex and continuous process progressing till the end of pregnancy and even after delivery. Although, a limited number of CNS anomalies may be suspected in the 1st trimester, the 2nd trimester is the best period of pregnancy to screen for CNS anomalies, but some malformations may be recognized only in the 3rd trimester or become evident only in the postnatal period. Screening for CNS anomalies relies on the use of the basic examination, which requires two simple axial planes on the fetal head (transventricular and transcerebellar). For a more detailed evaluation of brain malformations, an expanded fetal neurosonogram is needed, based on the use of multiple sagittal and coronal planes. The correct diagnosis of a CNS anomaly must be followed by an accurate counseling since the prognosis is varying widely. How to cite this article Vincenzo D, Pasquale C. Central Nervous System Malformations. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016;10(3):235-255.
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