OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify a cerebral ultrasound finding indicative of fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection at midgestation. STUDY DESIGN: All fetuses of 218 patients with primary CMV infection underwent prospective transvaginal neurosonographic examination at 20-22 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Transvaginal sonography identified a periventricular echogenic halo with well-defined borders in 6 infected fetuses at a mean gestational age of 20.5 weeks. Transabdominal axial views of the fetal head were normal in all cases. All patients opted for termination of pregnancy. Autopsy in 2 fetuses showed changes compatible with subacute white matter injury resembling telencephalic leukomalacia. CONCLUSION: A fetal cerebral periventricular halo disclosed by transvaginal sonography at midgestation in pregnant patients with recent CMV infection is suggestive of fetal infection and may be associated with white matter lesions. Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify a cerebral ultrasound finding indicative of fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection at midgestation. STUDY DESIGN: All fetuses of 218 patients with primary CMV infection underwent prospective transvaginal neurosonographic examination at 20-22 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Transvaginal sonography identified a periventricular echogenic halo with well-defined borders in 6 infected fetuses at a mean gestational age of 20.5 weeks. Transabdominal axial views of the fetal head were normal in all cases. All patients opted for termination of pregnancy. Autopsy in 2 fetuses showed changes compatible with subacute white matter injury resembling telencephalic leukomalacia. CONCLUSION: A fetal cerebral periventricular halo disclosed by transvaginal sonography at midgestation in pregnant patients with recent CMV infection is suggestive of fetal infection and may be associated with white matter lesions. Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.