Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of craniosynostosis: problems and possibilities using a clinical case as an example

Craniosynostosis is the process of premature fusion of the sutures of the skull. There is a high risk of both the maternal and fetal trauma during delivery craniosynostosis child, if the condition is left untreated, complications such as raised intracranial pressure, neurocognitive disorders and cosmetic defects may be implicated. Prenatal ultrasound`s detection rate of craniosynostosis is low. We present a clinical description of a patient with isolated fetal sagittal craniosynostosis during pregnancy. The following ultrasound signs were found during the study: scaphocephalic head shape, dropping growth of the biparietal diameter and cephalic index, the stable growth of the head circumference as the pregnancy progressed, the absence of hypoechogenicity of the sagittal suture, brain shadowing sign, a bony groove in the area of the synostosis by 3D ultrasound. After birth, the diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography of the brain, surgical treatment was performed at the age of three months. Our clinical case and literature data suggest that craniosynostosis could be diagnosed antenatally. If a fetal head size value, a cephalic index outside the normal range, or a change them in during pregnancy is detected, a detailed scan of the fetal skull and cranial sutures, including 3D scanning, should be performed. An increase in antenatal diagnosis of craniosynostosis will enable to a decrease maternal trauma and perinatal complications.

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