What does enlarged brain ventricles indicate?

Hydrocephalus is the abnormal enlargement of the brain cavities (ventricles) caused by a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Usually, the body maintains a constant circulation and absorption of CSF. Untreated, hydrocephalus can result in brain damage or death.

Can hydrocephalus resolve itself in infants?

Unlike forms of hydrocephalus caused by increased CSF in the ventricles, the external form involves fluid outside the brain, usually does not require any treatment and typically resolves itself over time.

Should I be worried if my unborn baby’s brain ventricles are larger than they should be?

If the ventricles are more than 15 mm wide, the enlargement is considered severe. Fetal ventriculomegaly occurs in approximately one in every 1,000 births, and in roughly half of the cases, there are no other findings or abnormalities in the baby.

How are enlarged ventricles treated?

How is ventriculomegaly treated? Treatment is usually only required if a baby shows signs of developing hydrocephalus. The aim of treatment is to reduce the pressure on the brain by draining away the CSF. In most cases, the fluid is drained away using a ‘shunt’, which is a long tube made of silicone.

Why would an infant with hydrocephalus have an enlarged head?

Too much CSF can increase the pressure in your baby’s head. This causes the bones in your baby’s skull to expand and separate. The baby’s head may look larger than normal.

What is the survival rate of hydrocephalus in infants?

Most of the newborns born with hydrocephalus will have a normal lifespan, and approximately 40 to 50 percent will have normal intelligence. Seizure disorders have been diagnosed in about 10 percent of children with hydrocephalus. The mortality rate for infants is approximately 5 percent.

Is amniocentesis a genetic test?

Amniocentesis is a prenatal test that can diagnose genetic disorders (such as Down syndrome and spina bifida) and other health issues in an unborn baby. A provider uses a needle to remove a small amount of amniotic fluid from inside your uterus, and then a lab tests the sample for specific conditions.

How can ventriculomegaly affect my child?

If the ventriculomegaly progresses, the baby may have symptoms of hydrocephalus, including: an unusually large head. a rapid increase in head size. extreme sleepiness.

What does enlarged ventricles in the brain mean?

– a problem that prevents the CSF fluid from circulating and being absorbed normally, which causes the fluid to progressively build up in the ventricles – the condition known as hydrocephalus. – a minor self-limiting imbalance in fluid circulation and absorption that becomes compensated – defects in brain development – damage or loss of brain tissue

What does enlarged ventricles mean?

What does large ventricles in the brain mean? There are spaces within the brain (ventricles) that are also filled with CSF. Ventriculomegaly is a condition in which the ventricles appear larger than normal on a prenatal ultrasound.

What causes swollen ventricles in the brain?

Bulging of the soft spots on top of the head (fontanelles) in infants or small children

What is mild ventriculomegaly?

Up to 12 mm we call it “mild” ventriculomegaly. If the posterior horn (atrium) measures more than 15 mm, it is known as hydrocephaly. It is not uncommon for lateral ventricles to be slightly larger in boys. Ventriculomegaly occurs in about 1% of fetuses.