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Fantasia I, Faletra F, Bussani R, Murru FM, Ottaviani Giammarco C, Travan L, Sirchia F, Feresin A, Stampalija T. Obliterated cavum septi pellucidi: is it always a benign finding? A case report and narrative review of the literature. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023; 36:2232075. [PMID: 37414745 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2232075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The septum pellucidum is a virtual cavity located at the anterior part of the brain midline, which only in fetal life has a certain amount of fluid inside. The presence of an obliterated cavum septi pellucidi (oCSP) in the prenatal period is poorly described in the literature but, nevertheless, it constitutes an important clinical dilemma for the fetal medicine specialist in terms of significance and prognosis. Moreover, its occurrence is increasing maybe because of the widespread of high-resolution ultrasound machine. The aim of this work is to review the available literature regarding the oCSP along with the description of a case-report of oCSP with an unexpected outcome. METHODS A search of the literature through Pubmed was performed up to December 2022 with the aim to identify all cases of oCSP previously described, using as keywords "cavum septi pellucidi," "abnormal cavum septi pellucidi," "fetus," and "septum pellucidum." Along with the narrative review, we describe a case-report of oCSP. RESULTS A 39 years old woman was diagnosed with a nuchal translucency between the 95° and 99° centile in the first trimester and an oCSP and "hookshaped" gallbladder at 20 weeks. Left polymicrogyria was found at fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Standard karyotype and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were normal. After birth, the newborn presented signs of severe acidosis, untreatable seizures and multiorgan failure leading to death. A targeted gene analysis of the epilepsy panel revealed the presence of a de novo pathogenic variant involving the PTEN gene. The literature review identified four articles reporting on the oCSP of which three were case report and one was a case-series. The reported rate of associated cerebral findings is around 20% and the rate of adverse neurological outcome is around 6%, which is higher than the background risk of the general population. CONCLUSIONS This case-report and review of the literature shows that oCSP is a clinical entity poorly described so far and that, despite the generally good prognosis, it requires caution in counseling. The diagnostic work-up should include neurosonography while fetal MRI may be always indicated for non-isolated cases only, depending on local facilities. Targeted gene analysis or whole exome sequencing may be indicated for non-isolated cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Fantasia
- Unit of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy
| | - Flavio Faletra
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy
| | - Rossana Bussani
- Institute of Pathologic Anatomy, Trieste University Hospital, Trieste, Italy
| | - Flora Maria Murru
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Laura Travan
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Sirchia
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Agnese Feresin
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Tamara Stampalija
- Unit of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Fantasia I, Ciardo C, Bracalente G, Filippi E, Murru FM, Spezzacatene A, Bin M, Mendez Quintero O, Montaguti E, Lees C, Papanikolaou K, Pilu G, Prefumo F, Thilaganathan B, Stampalija T. Obliterated cavum septi pellucidi: Clinical significance and role of fetal magnetic resonance. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2023; 102:744-750. [PMID: 37059118 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to describe a cohort of fetuses with an ultrasound prenatal diagnosis of obliterated cavum septi pellucidi (oCSP) with the aim to explore the rate of associated malformations, the progression during pregnancy and the role of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective multicenter international study of fetuses diagnosed with oCSP in the second trimester with available fetal MRI and subsequent ultrasound and/or fetal MRI follow-up in the third trimester. Where available, postnatal data were collected to obtain information on neurodevelopment. RESULTS We identified 45 fetuses with oCSP at 20.5 weeks (interquartile range 20.1-21.1). oCSP was apparently isolated at ultrasound in 89% (40/45) and fetal MRI found additional findings in 5% (2/40) of cases, including polymicrogyria and microencephaly. In the remaining 38 fetuses, fetal MRI found a variable amount of fluid in CSP in 74% (28/38) and no fluid in 26% (10/38). Ultrasound follow-up at or after 30 weeks confirmed the diagnosis of oCSP in 32% (12/38) while fluid was visible in 68% (26/38). At follow-up MRI, performed in eight pregnancies, there were periventricular cysts and delayed sulcation with persistent oCSP in one case. Among the remaining cases with normal follow-up ultrasound and fetal MRI findings, the postnatal outcome was normal in 89% of cases (33/37) and abnormal in 11% (4/37): two with isolated speech delay, and two with neurodevelopmental delay secondary to postnatal diagnosis of Noonan syndrome at 5 years in one case and microcephaly with delayed cortical maturation at 5 months in the other. CONCLUSIONS Apparently isolated oCSP at mid-pregnancy is a transient finding with the visualization of the fluid later in pregnancy in up to 70% of cases. At referral, associated defects can be found in around 11% of cases at ultrasound and 8% at fetal MRI indicating the need for a detailed evaluation by expert physicians when oCSP is suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Fantasia
- Unit of Fetal Medicine, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Claudia Ciardo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ospedale Fracastoro, San Bonifacio, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Filippi
- UOC Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ospedale Cà Foncello Treviso, Treviso, Italy
| | - Flora Maria Murru
- Radiology Service, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Anita Spezzacatene
- Radiology Service, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Maura Bin
- Division of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Montaguti
- Obstetric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Christoph Lees
- Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Katherine Papanikolaou
- Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Gianluigi Pilu
- Obstetric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Prefumo
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Tamara Stampalija
- Unit of Fetal Medicine, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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O'Keefe H, Shenfine R, Brown M, Beyer F, Rankin J. Are non-invasive or minimally invasive autopsy techniques for detecting cause of death in prenates, neonates and infants accurate? A systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e064774. [PMID: 36609326 PMCID: PMC9827258 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive or minimally invasive autopsy techniques in deaths under 1 year of age. DESIGN This is a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy. The protocol is registered on PROSPERO. PARTICIPANTS Deaths from conception to one adjusted year of age. SEARCH METHODS MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), the Cochrane Library, Scopus and grey literature sources were searched from inception to November 2021. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS Non-invasive or minimally invasive diagnostic tests as an alternative to traditional autopsy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Studies were included if participants were under one adjusted year of age, with index tests conducted prior to the reference standard.Data were extracted from eligible studies using piloted forms. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. A narrative synthesis was conducted following the Synthesis without Meta-Analysis guidelines. Vote counting was used to assess the direction of effect. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Direction of effect was expressed as percentage of patients per study. FINDINGS We included 54 direct evidence studies (68 articles/trials), encompassing 3268 cases and eight index tests. The direction of effect was positive for postmortem ultrasound and antenatal echography, although with varying levels of success. Conversely, the direction of effect was against virtual autopsy. For the remaining tests, the direction of effect was inconclusive.A further 134 indirect evidence studies (135 articles/trials) were included, encompassing 6242 perinatal cases. The addition of these results had minimal impact on the direct findings yet did reveal other techniques, which may be favourable alternatives to autopsy.Seven trial registrations were included but yielded no results. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence is insufficient to make firm conclusions about the generalised use of non-invasive or minimally invasive autopsy techniques in relation to all perinatal population groups.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021223254.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah O'Keefe
- NIHR Innovation Observatory, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rebekka Shenfine
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Melissa Brown
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Fiona Beyer
- NIHR Innovation Observatory, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Judith Rankin
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Accuracy and clinical utility of standard postmortem radiological imaging after early second trimester termination of pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2022; 273:75-80. [PMID: 35504117 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess accuracy and clinical utility of postmortem radiological exams [Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT) and Radiography (XR)] after termination of pregnancy at <23 weeks' gestation for congenital fetal malformations in comparison to autopsy. STUDY DESIGN This a prospective single-center study on fetuses underwent termination of pregnancy for fetal defects. Overall concordance between any radiological exam and autopsy was evaluated. For postmortem MRI only, the following subgroups were analyzed: 1) total agreement; 2) agreement for main findings; 3) agreement for main findings but major relevant additional findings at autopsy; 4) total disagreement. RESULTS 174 cases were collected. The overall concordance with autopsy for main findings was 71% (115/163) for postmortem MRI and 99% (173/174) for prenatal ultrasound (US). Postmortem MRI detection rate was high for central nervous system (CNS) defects (98%), gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory defects (100%), while it was poor for cardiovascular and musculoskeletal defects (25% and 42%, respectively). For musculoskeletal abnormalities, the performance of postmortem XR and postmortem CT exams improved the detection rate from 42% for postmortem MRI alone to 92%. CONCLUSIONS Postmortem MRI has a good overall concordance for fetal defects after termination of pregnancy performed at <23 weeks. Along with autopsy, postmortem MRI may be offered for all cases of CNS defects in order to prevent inconclusive exams due to autolysis of the brain tissue, while postmortem CT and postmortem XR are indicated for musculoskeletal defects. In the presence of multiple abnormalities or cardiac defects the couple should be counseled on the poor performance of radiological investigations.
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Sirchia F, Fantasia I, Feresin A, Giorgio E, Faletra F, Mordeglia D, Barbieri M, Guida V, De Luca A, Stampalija T. Prenatal findings of cataract and arthrogryposis: recurrence of cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome and review of differential diagnosis. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:89. [PMID: 33766032 PMCID: PMC7992958 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-021-00939-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome (COFS) is a severe and progressive neurologic condition characterized by prenatal onset of arthrogryposis, cataract, microcephaly and growth failure. The aim of this study was to present a case of recurrence of the COFS syndrome and to propose a differential diagnosis flow-chart in case of prenatal findings of arthrogryposis and cataract. CASE PRESENTATION We report a case of recurrence of COFS3 syndrome within the same family, with similar diagnostic features. In the first case the COFS syndrome remained undiagnosed, while in the second case, due to prenatal findings of arthrogryposis and cataract, genetic investigation focusing on responsible genes of COFS (ERCC5, ERCC6 and FKTN genes) was carried out. The fetus was found to be compound heterozygous for two different ERCC5 mutations, confirming the clinical suspect of COFS syndrome. A review of the literature on possible causative genes of prenatal cataract and arthrogryposis was performed and we present a flow-chart to guide differential diagnosis and possible genetic testing in case of these findings. CONCLUSION COFS syndrome is a rare autosomic recessive condition. However, it can be suspected and diagnosed prenatally. The flow-chart illustrates a pathway to guide differential diagnosis according to the prenatal findings. Main syndromes, key testing and specific genes are included. Targeted molecular testing should be offered to the couple in order to reach a diagnosis and assess the recurrence risk for future pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Sirchia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Fantasia
- Unit of Fetal Medicine e Prenatal Diagnosis, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Agnese Feresin
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Giorgio
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Flavio Faletra
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Denise Mordeglia
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Moira Barbieri
- Unit of Fetal Medicine e Prenatal Diagnosis, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Valentina Guida
- Division of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS-Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Alessandro De Luca
- Division of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS-Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Tamara Stampalija
- Unit of Fetal Medicine e Prenatal Diagnosis, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.,Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Reply to correspondence: Prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system abnormalities: Neurosonography versus fetal magnetic resonance imaging. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 253:337-338. [PMID: 32718863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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