To investigate the prenatal and postnatal outcomes of fetuses with isolated mild lateral ventricular dilatation.

Seventy-three newborns with isolated mild lateral ventricular dilatation diagnosed before delivery at The Huzhou Maternity and Child Health Hospital from June 2016 to June 2018 were included. All patients were examined every two weeks after the first discovery of lateral ventricular dilatation until birth. MRI examination was performed within 7 days after birth, and follow-up by ultrasound every 3 months was then performed to observe the dilation of the lateral ventricle up to 1 year old. The mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development Index (PDI) of The Bailey Infant Development Scale were used to evaluate the development of all children after birth. According to the scores obtained, the development statue was classified as excellent, good, and poor, and the development was evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months. The changes of lateral ventricular dilatation were observed and the prognosis of newborns with different changes was analyzed.

Among the 73 newborns, 28 (38.4%, 28/73) had reduced dilatation of the lateral ventricle during the fetal stage and after birth, 38 (52.1%, 38/73) had no obvious changes, and 7 (9.5%, 7/73) had progressive enlargement. One year after birth, the PDI and MDI scores of the patients with progressive enlargement were significantly lower than those of the other two groups (PDI: t=14.2093 and 12.8738, respectively, P<0.01; MDI: t=15.4998 and 17.8503, respectively, P<0.05). The MDI and PDI scores of 28 patients were excellent, and no cases had a poor prognosis. Among the 38 patients with no significant changes, 1 had poor MDI and PDI scores, 2 had good scores, and 35 had excellent scores. Among the 7 patients with progressive enlargement, 5 had low PDI scores and 4 had low MDI scores. The results of neonatal prognosis differed significantly among the three groups (PDI: H=36.161, P<0.001; MDI: H=31.938, P<0.001).

For fetuses with isolated mild dilatation of the lateral ventricle, if the dilatation has no significant change or gradually shrinks, there is generally a good prognosis; if the dilatation shows progressive enlargement, the risk of poor prognosis increases and the patient should be carefully consulted.