Prenatal diagnosis of diastematomyelia in a 15-week-old fetus

• Published in: Fetal diagnosis and therapy Vol. 20; no. 4; p. 258
• Main Authors: Biri, A A, Turp, A B, Kurdoğlu, M, Himmetoğlu, O, Tokgöz Ercan, N, Balci, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-07-2005
• Subjects: Abortion, Induced; Adult; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Neural Tube Defects - diagnostic imaging; Pregnancy; Prognosis; Spinal Cord - abnormalities; Ultrasonography, Prenatal
• ISSN: 1015-3837
• DOI: 10.1159/000085081

A case of prenatal diagnosis of diastematomyelia is presented.
A case of fetal diastematomyelia, diagnosed by prenatal sonography, demonstrated the typical sonographic features of this condition. In this case it was detected at 15 weeks of gestation, and presented with a midline echogenic focus in the posterior region of the thoracolumbar spine.
The pregnancy was terminated by induction of labor. The fetus was female and there was a 1-cm long endurated hyperemic lesion at the back of the fetus. We confirmed the diagnosis of diastematomyelia after termination of pregnancy by plain chest and abdominal X-ray and also MRI scanning.
Isolated diastematomyelia is a rare form of spinal dysraphism characterized by a sagittal cleft in the spinal cord, conus medullaris and/or filum terminale with splaying of the posterior vertebral elements. Prenatal diagnosis of this anomaly is possible in the early mid-trimester by sonography, thus allowing for early surgical intervention and a favorable prognosis.