PRENATAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF FETAL CEREBRAL VENTRICULITIS ASSOCIATED WITH ASYMPTOMATIC MATERNAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION

Cytomegalovirus is the most common cause of congenital viral infection . In utero infection is usually suspected in patients with growth-reta rded fetuses or when maternal illness precipitates serological investi gations. A case is presented where routine ultrasound examination at 3 0 weeks' gestation in an asymptomatic patient demonstrated mild fetal ventriculomegaly. Transvaginal ultrasound enabled the visualization of intraventricular adhesions and small periventricular cysts. The suspe cted diagnosis of in utero cytomegalovirus infection was confirmed by the presence of IgM antibodies in fetal blood and subsequently by isol ation of the virus from the infant's urine. The presence of mild fetal ventriculomegaly should prompt transvaginal brain imaging.