Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal outcomes of cavum septum pellucidum et vergae

INTRODUCTION: Evaluation of demographic characteristics and postnatal outcomes of fetuses with cavum septum pellucidum et vergae (CSPV) diagnosis followed in a tertiary center.
METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in Ankara Bilkent City Hospital perinatology clinic between 2020-2023. Cases with the prenatal diagnosis of CSPV were evaluated. Demographic features, prenatal ultrasound findings, noninvasive screening test results, invasive diagnostic test results, prenatal anomaly screening ultrasound findings, and postnatal outcomes were reported.
RESULTS: There was a total of 24 prenatally diagnosed CSPV cases during the study period. The mean gestational week at diagnosis was 25.6 ± 3.2 weeks. Nineteen patients participated in noninvasive screening tests; five patients declined them. Noninvasive screening tests revealed low risk in 17 patients and high risk in 2. Amniocentesis was performed in 5 patients; 3 of them had a normal karyotype, 1 fetus was diagnosed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, and 1 fetus had trisomy 21. Six patients with isolated CSPV were accepted and underwent fetal MRI, other eighteen patients refused MRI. MRI corrected the CSPV in all six patients, and they had no additional findings. Five (%21) fetuses were admitted to the intensive care unit because of recurrent absence convulsions (n=1), anal atresia (n=1), cleft lip palate (n=1), respiratory distress (n=1) and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (n=1).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: CSPV is considered a normal variant of cavum septum pellucidum and can be diagnosed during ultrasound screening for fetal anomalies; in isolated cases perinatal outcomes are favorable.