Utilization of neurosonography for evaluation of the corpus callosum malformations in the era of fetal magnetic resonance imaging.

AIM: We evaluated the ability of fetal neurosonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to asses callosal anomalies (CA) and associated cranial malformations. We also aimed to determine the long-term prognosis of the cases.

METHODS: Thirty-six cases of CA diagnosed combined with neurosonography and MRI between January 2012 and October 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS: Seventeen of 36 fetuses were diagnosed complete agenesis of corpus callosum (CACC) (47.2%), 9 had partial agenesis of corpus callosum (PACC) (25%) and 10 was dysgenesis of the corpus callosum (DCC) (27.2%) at ultrasonography (US) examination. Fetal MRI reported 16 of cases as CACC (44.4%), 11 PACC (30.5%) and nine (25%) DCC. The overall consistency between neurosonography and MRI in the definition of CA were 91% of cases. Sulcation anomalies were present in 9 cases in the US (25%) and 11 cases in MRI (30.4%). Seven of cases showed posterior fossa abnormalities in the US (19.4%) and eight cases in MRI (22.1%). Neonatal MRI added new findings to fetal MRI and neurosonography including grade-1 intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia in two cases (12.5%). Eighteen cases were terminated (50%), 17 cases were followed up and mean follow up interval was 39 ± 5.1 months. The neurologic outcome was abnormal in seven (41.7%) patients. Presence of associated brain anomalies worsened the prognosis.

CONCLUSION: Fetal neurosonography has a comparable performance with MRI in the diagnosis of CA and associated anomalies. It should be used in collaboration with MRI to achieve accurate diagnosis which is crucial for counseling.