Assessment of the ganglionic eminence in fetuses with isolated ventriculomegaly and its association with postnatal neurodevelopmental outcomes: a retrospective cohort study

We aim to compare ganglionic eminence (GE) areas between healthy fetuses and those with isolated mild to moderate ventriculomegaly using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and assess the postnatal implications of GE area as a marker for neurodevelopmental prognosis. A retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of pregnant women who underwent fetal MRI examination between 2018 and 2024. 104 fetuses with bilateral, isolated mild to moderate ventriculomegaly were included in the patient group, and 58 healthy fetuses were included in the control group. Fetal GE areas were measured using the hospital's archiving system. GE area values were compared between the groups. Telephone numbers of the parents were obtained from hospital archives, and postnatal neurodevelopmental outcomes of the babies with IMV were questioned over the phone. Only diagnoses made by a pediatrician or child psychiatrist were accepted. The GE area measurements of fetuses with isolated mild to moderate ventriculomegaly were found to be significantly higher than those of healthy fetuses. There was only an association between speech delay/difficulty, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and GE enlargement, but this association was not statistically significant. Measuring GE areas in the prenatal follow-up of fetuses with isolated mild to moderate ventriculomegaly may provide valuable insights into postnatal neurodevelopmental problems.