Ventriculomegaly

What are the signs and symptoms of ventriculomegaly?

Most babies with ventriculomegaly don’t have any symptoms before birth. After birth, possible signs and symptoms include:

• A bulging soft spot on their head
• Bulging scalp veins
• Developmental delays
• Difficulty feeding
• Enlarged, quickly growing head
• Extreme drowsiness
• Irregular eye movements, such as difficulty looking upward
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures

How do we diagnose ventriculomegaly? 

Sometimes, doctors can detect ventriculomegaly on a prenatal ultrasound, often at the 20-week fetal anatomy ultrasound. However, ultrasound can show enlarged ventricles as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy. If your doctor detects ventriculomegaly, they may recommend other tests, such as:

• Blood testing for genetic or infectious causes
• Amniocentesis to look for genetic differences
• Fetal MRI to get a more detailed picture of your baby’s brain

If your doctor detects ventriculomegaly, they will discuss the potential causes with you. They typically continue monitoring the size of your baby’s ventricles throughout pregnancy. If the ventricles continue to get bigger, your baby’s risk of developing hydrocephalus soon after birth increases. 

Some research has also shown that ventriculomegaly may be associated with conditions such as:

• Agenesis of the corpus callosum
• Chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome
• Spina bifida

How is ventriculomegaly treated? 

There is no treatment for ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus during pregnancy. After birth, babies may require treatment, especially if they have symptoms. Depending on the baby’s symptoms, a doctor may prescribe a medication or other treatments.

Doctors may recommend brain surgery to drain fluid and decrease pressure on the brain. Surgical options include:

• Shunt placement: A pediatric neurosurgeon places a small, flexible tube in your baby’s brain. This tube drains the excess CSF from the brain to another part of their body, usually their abdomen, where the body safely reabsorbs it. This is the most common treatment for hydrocephalus.
• Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV): A pediatric neurosurgeon uses a small camera and surgical tools to make an opening in one of your baby’s brain ventricles. This creates a way for excess CSF to drain from the ventricles.
• Endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC): A pediatric neurosurgeon uses a small camera and surgical tools to make an opening in one of your baby’s brain ventricles. Then they safely burn (cauterize) some of the choroid plexus, the tissue that makes CSF. This reduces CSF production to prevent future buildup.

Why choose us for treatment of ventriculomegaly? 

At the Colorado Fetal Care Center, we provide compassionate, advanced care for your baby before and after birth. Your treatment is in the hands of specialists who offer world-class testing, accurate diagnoses and state-of-the-art treatments. We offer:

• Multispecialty care: We provide comprehensive, coordinated treatment for unborn babies suspected to have ventriculomegaly. We bring all the necessary experts together in one convenient appointment and location. You have access to an entire team that includes fetal radiology, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology, genetic specialists and pediatric neurosurgeons. This team will ensure a thorough evaluation of your baby and help develop a care plan during your pregnancy and after birth. For babies who need more advanced care, our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) treats more babies than almost any NICU in the nation, with outcomes that rank above the national average.
• Supportive environment: We designed our Center so that parents and babies can stay close, even if your baby needs immediate care at birth. For example, babies with ventriculomegaly may need surgery to treat hydrocephalus shortly after birth. In these cases, you’ll be able to visit your newborn and actively participate in their care and recovery.
• Expert treatment: Physicians nationwide send patients with the most complex fetal diagnoses to our Center. We are one of only a few centers in the country with the expertise to care for high-risk babies. Our pediatric neurosurgery program is the most comprehensive in the Rocky Mountain region. If your child needs surgery for severe ventriculomegaly, our specialists have the tools, experience and skills to offer the most advanced care.

Contact us?

Learn more about the Colorado Fetal Care Center or call 720-777-4463.

Helpful resources

• The Hydrocephalus Association offers additional resources for children with hydrocephalus, including educational information, connection to support groups and research updates.