Borderline Ventriculomegaly

[jennifer30]

Hi all

I'm currently 28 weeks with baby #4. At our 20 week scan baby looked wonderful. At the 25 week scan borderline ventriculomegaly was diagnosed. One ventricle was measuring correctly while the other was 11.2. We were assured this was only slightly larger than it should be and probably nothing. At the ultrasound yesterday I was hoping that we would hear good news - either it reduced in size or stayed the same. Unfortunately it grew. It now measures 12.5. I'm really scared and not sure what to think. We are being referred to CHOP for an MRI and repeat of all ultrasounds and echocardiogram.

Has anyone else been through this? I could use some words of wisdom right now!

By the way, everything else about the baby is perfect and all risks in the screening tests came back very low.

 

[Emmea12uk]

My son had it and in a live born it is usually referred to as hydrocephalus, which my son now has. He had a minor op at birth to insert a drain into the ventricle to the abdomen.

Hydro can come with lots of other effects such as learning difficulties but not always. My boy is super smart. I guess it depends how bad it is - and I dOnt think that is bad btw.

Also at this stage there is still a big chance that the baby will be fine.

Sorry in a hurry! Will come back in a bit!

 

[flower74]

I have no advice I'm afraid as I'm going through this at the mo, 31 wk scan showed a larger measurement have to go back next week, 33 wks, for a further scan and really don't know what to expect. Have resisted googling as I didn't want to scare myself, just waiting out on next scan and any further advice/interventions required.

Good luck with your future appointments.

X

 

[Tegans Mama]

My son had it and in a live born it is usually referred to as hydrocephalus, which my son now has. He had a minor op at birth to insert a drain into the ventricle to the abdomen.

Hydro can come with lots of other effects such as learning difficulties but not always. My boy is super smart. I guess it depends how bad it is - and I dOnt think that is bad btw.

Also at this stage there is still a big chance that the baby will be fine.

Sorry in a hurry! Will come back in a bit!

Emma - ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus are similar, but not the same. Hydro is enlarged ventricles due to extra fluid, ventriculomegaly is enlarged ventricles for any reason at all. Sometimes due to fluid, sometimes due to a mass, sometimes because the brain has just grown that way.

To the OP - My daughter also has hydrocephalus and the prognosis for children with hydro is very positive. I think the difference with ventriculomegaly is that it can advance very quickly and (as I understand) can have worse effects on brain development. I have everything crossed that your LO's ventricles stop getting bigger xx

 

[Emmea12uk]

My son had it and in a live born it is usually referred to as hydrocephalus, which my son now has. He had a minor op at birth to insert a drain into the ventricle to the abdomen.

Hydro can come with lots of other effects such as learning difficulties but not always. My boy is super smart. I guess it depends how bad it is - and I dOnt think that is bad btw.

Also at this stage there is still a big chance that the baby will be fine.

Sorry in a hurry! Will come back in a bit!

Emma - ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus are similar, but not the same. Hydro is enlarged ventricles due to extra fluid, ventriculomegaly is enlarged ventricles for any reason at all. Sometimes due to fluid, sometimes due to a mass, sometimes because the brain has just grown that way.

To the OP - My daughter also has hydrocephalus and the prognosis for children with hydro is very positive. I think the difference with ventriculomegaly is that it can advance very quickly and (as I understand) can have worse effects on brain development. I have everything crossed that your LO's ventricles stop getting bigger xx

I know that. It is nOrmally hydro though and I didn't want to mention the rarer scarier things, as they won't show until MRI. On it's own it isn't worth freaking out about because it could be anything from mild hydro to much more severe things. I was sticking with odds and being nice and optimistic. I don't want to cause anyone to freak out about masses and things that have not been detected yet, and normally are in u/s.

Indeed sometimes that is just the way they are and nothing bad comes out if it.