Early transvaginal sonographic diagnosis of alobar holoprosencephaly

Abstract

Holoprosencephaly is a cerebral anomaly resulting from incomplete cleavage of the primitive prosencephalon or forebrain. Early detection of this anomaly is very important since the most severe form is incompatible with life. The diagnosis also signals the need for a chromosomal determination since chromosomal abnormalities have been associated with this anomaly. An early diagnosis of alobar holoprosencephaly at 14 weeks' gestation, employing transvaginal sonography, is reported. Our findings are compared with prenatal transabdominal sonographic findings of holoprosencephaly which have been reported during the last decade in the literature.