Question

Hello, my child was found to have hypoplasia of the dorsal lateral ventricles during an ultrasound examination. What are the potential sequelae?

Answer

In the normal fetal development, cystic dilation of the lateral ventricles may occur, but most often these cysts resolve by 26 weeks of gestation. If the condition persists beyond 26 weeks and is bilateral, it is advisable to perform a postnatal cranial ultrasound and chorionic villus chromosomal analysis after birth. If the cysts resolve on their own, they typically do not lead to brain compression or elevated intracranial pressure, and should not negatively impact the child’s intellectual development or other aspects postnatally. For infants beyond 22 weeks of gestation, cystic dilation of the lateral ventricles is generally considered significant, so regular ultrasound examinations are recommended, and there is no need for excessive worry.