‘Bat‐like’ choroid plexus and other sonographic features in trisomy 22 at the first trimester of pregnancy

Abstract

What's already know about this topic? Abnormalities of the choroid plexus have only been reported in association to holoprosencephaly, so the description of the ‘bat sign’ in the first trimester is novel and could be important as a marker of some rare chromosomal abnormalities, in this case trisomy 22. What does this study add? Our data is another remarkable proof of the importance of a morphological investigation of the fetus in the first trimester.

Fetal diagnostic indications for second and third trimester outpatient pregnancy termination

“…This increase reflected a gradual change in clinic policy to accept patients with more advanced gestations, more requests for late termination of pregnancy because of fewer options being available elsewhere, and advances in fetal diagnosis. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] More than 95% of patients in this series of 1005 patients had uncomplicated pregnancy terminations with complete evacuation of the uterus The 26 patients presenting with a spontaneous fetal demise late in pregnancy were managed by a D & E procedure following serial multiple laminaria dilation of the cervix. For 12 patients with a single live abnormal fetus, fetal demise was induced at the patient′s request followed by management of the delivery by the patient′s own obstetrician.…”

The ongoing debate over fetal anatomic surveys in the first trimester: a matter of timing?

“…19 An anomalous "bat-like" configuration of the choroid plexus in the first trimester has been associated with fetal chromosomal abnormality, in particular with trisomy 22 (Figure 4). 20 In 1991, Bronshtein and Ben-Shlomo studied the dismorphism of choroid plexus by transvaginal sonography, and they noticed that in a case of ventriculomegaly, the choroid plexuses do not occupy the entire space. 21 "Ventriculomegaly" and "hydrocephalus" are both terms used to describe a dilatation of lateral ventricles, but they should be distinguished from one another, because in hydrocephalus there is an increased intracranial pressure that can be absent in ventriculomegaly.…”