Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Encephalocele Using Three-dimensional Ultrasound

Fetal encephalocele, with high risk of mortality and morbidity, is one of the most serious congenital neural tube defects. Prenatal diagnosis of encephalocele is important in fetal medicine. In this study, we detected encephalocele using three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US). We reviewed our medical records of prenatal diagnosis of fetal encephalocele in National Cheng Kung University Hospital from May 2000 to November 2011. All the cases were scanned by two-dimensional and 3D US. In total, 10 cases of fetal encephalocele were diagnosed and enrolled for analysis. The range of gestational age at prenatal diagnosis by US was 12-27 weeks, and one case was diagnosed in the first trimester. Among them, 70% were occipital encephalocele, 10% frontal encephalocele, and 20% parietal encephalocele. Compared with previous studies, 3D US can detect fetal encephalocele early and provide additional vivid illustrations after various modes of reconstruction. In conclusion, 3D US may contribute to early detection of fetal encephalocele and provide visual depiction, thus, assisting substantially with prenatal diagnosis as well as genetic consultation.