Prenatal phenotype of a homozygous nonsense MPDZ variant in a fetus with severe congenital hydrocephalus.

The fetal phenotype of MPDZ-associated congenital hydrocephalus type 2 with or without brain or eye anomalies (HYC2) (OMIM 615219) is not well described in the literature. The present case shows not previously published clinical fetal features that are detected during routine second trimester ultrasound screening at 21 weeks of gestation such as bilateral ventriculomegaly, lean cavum septum pellucidum, suspicion of hypoplastic corpus callosum, and suspicion of gyration disorder with normal fossa posterior. Combination of clinical features and a gene panel for congenital malformation syndromes detected a homozygous, likely pathogenic nonsense variant in the MPDZ gene. HYC2 is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with prenatal onset. Clinical presentation is highly variable, varying from stillbirth and severe neurodevelopmental problems with death in infancy to adult patients. Other reported associated congenital anomalies are mainly heart defects and ophthalmologic abnormalities. The present case so far is the first prenatally well described case of HYC2 in an ongoing pregnancy.

Potential Heating Effect in the Gravid Uterus by Using 3-T MR Imaging Protocols: Experimental Study in Miniature Pigs.

Purpose To determine the changes in temperature within the gravid miniature pig uterus during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 3 T. Materials and Methods The study received ethics committee approval for animal experimentation. Fiber-optic temperature sensors were inserted into the fetal brain, abdomen, bladder, and amniotic fluid of miniature pigs (second trimester, n = 2; third trimester, n = 2). In the first trimester (n = 2), the sensors were inserted only into the amniotic fluid (three sacs per miniature pig, for a total of six sacs). Imaging was performed with a 3-T MR imager by using different imaging protocols in a random order for animal, each lasting approximately 15 minutes. The first regimen consisted of common sequences used for human fetal MR examination, including normal specific absorption rate (SAR). The second regimen consisted of five low-SAR sequences, for which three gradient-echo sequences were interspersed with two diffusion-weighted imaging series. Finally, a high-SAR regimen maximized the radiofrequency energy deposition (constrained by the 2-W per kilogram of body weight SAR limitations) by using five single-shot turbo spin-echo sequences. Differences in temperature increases between the three regimens and between the three trimesters were evaluated by using one-way analysis of variance. The maximum cumulative temperature increase over 1 hour was also evaluated. Results Low-SAR regimens resulted in the lowest temperature increase (mean ± standard deviation, -0.03°C ± 0.20), normal regimens resulted in an intermediate increase (0.31°C ± 0.21), and high-SAR regimens resulted in the highest increase (0.56°C ± 0.20) (P < .0001). Mean temperature increase in the third trimester was 0.38°C ± 0.27, with no significant differences compared with the first (0.23°C ± 0.27) and second (0.25°C ± 0.32) trimesters (P = .07). The cumulative temperature increase over 1-hour imaging time with high SAR can reach 2.5°C. Conclusion In pregnant miniature pigs, the use of 3-T magnets for diagnostic MR imaging with normal SAR regimens does not lead to temperature increases above 1°C if imaging time is kept below 30 minutes. Longer imaging time, especially with high-SAR regimens, can lead to an increase of 2.5°C. (©) RSNA, 2015 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: contribution and best timing of prenatal MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To predict sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and neurological impairment in congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection using MR imaging and define the best timing in pregnancy for prenatal assessment. METHODS: In 121 patients with confirmed cCMV infection, brain features at MR imaging were respectively graded from 1 to 5: normal; isolated frontal/parieto-occipital hyperintensity; temporal periventricular hyperintensity; temporal/occipital cysts and/or intraventricular septa; migration disorders. Grading was correlated with postnatal SNHL and neurological impairment using regression analysis. In 51 fetuses with MR examinations at 26.9 and 33.0 weeks, the predictive value of SNHL and neurological impairment was compared using ROC curves. RESULTS: Postnatal follow-up showed SNHL in 18 infants and neurological impairment in 10. MR grading was predictive of SNHL and of neurological impairment (P < 0.001). In grade 1 or 2, none had SNHL and 1/74 had neurological impairment. The areas under ROC curves for prediction of postnatal SNHL and of neurological impairment from first and second MR examination were comparable. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that in cCMV infection, prediction of SNHL and neurological impairment is feasible by fetal MR imaging with a high negative predictive value and can equally be done at 27 or 33 weeks of gestation. KEY POINTS: • In cCMV, isolated periventricular T2-weighted signal hyperintensity has a good postnatal prognosis. • In cCMV, SNHL and neurological impairment can be predicted at 27 or 33 weeks. • In cCMV, fetal MR has a high NPV in predicting SNHL. • In cCMV, fetal MR has a high NPV in predicting neurological impairment.

Post-Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Superficial Temporal Artery in a Pediatric Patient.

Teaching Point: A pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery is a rare complication of head injury in a child.

Detection of CMV DNA in the perilymph of a 6-year-old boy with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

We present the case of a 6-year-old boy who received a cochlear implant for profound sensorineural hearing loss after being born with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Even after 6 years, CMV DNA was still found in the perilymph of the cochlea. Our case shows that CMV DNA can be present in the cochlea years after congenital CMV infection, and it can explain why progressive and/or late-onset hearing loss occurs in these children.