Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42882299›Full record

ReviewDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Mild Ventriculomegaly, Ventricular Asymmetry, and Posterior Fossa Variants: A Narrative Review of Borderline Fetal Brain Findings.

Iulian Gabriel Goidescu, Georgiana Nemeti, Adelina Staicu, Mihai Surcel, Dan Boitor, Cerasela Mihaela Goidescu, Ioana Cristina Rotar, Gheorghe Cruciat, Daniel Muresan

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Iulian Gabriel GoidescuObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-6106-816X
Georgiana NemetiObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-8567-1246
Adelina StaicuObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Mihai SurcelObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-4922-3013
Dan BoitorObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-6832-9898
Cerasela Mihaela GoidescuDepartment of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic I-Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-1488-8130
Ioana Cristina RotarObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-7700-2384
Gheorghe CruciatObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Daniel MuresanObstetrics and Gynecology I, Mother and Child Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hațieganu", 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Recent advances in fetal neurosonography have markedly improved the detection of subtle central nervous system findings that were previously identified less frequently. Mild ventriculomegaly (MV), non-dilated ventricular asymmetry (NDVA), mega cisterna magna (MCM), and Blake's pouch cyst (BPC) are increasingly encountered during routine prenatal ultrasound and, in the absence of associated genetic or infectious abnormalities, are commonly regarded as borderline conditions or anatomical variants. These findings frequently pose challenges in prognostic evaluation and in the counseling of expectant parents. The objective of this review is to summarize current evidence on the detection, characterization, and clinical management of these four entities and to provide a practical framework for evidence-based parental counseling. This narrative review examines the diagnostic approach to MV, NDVA, MCM, and BPC using both ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A uniform analytic framework is applied to each entity, addressing in turn etiology, sonographic assessment, the complementary role of MRI, genetic evaluation, and prognosis with counseling considerations. Representative ultrasound and fetal MRI images from a tertiary referral center are used for illustrative purposes. Across all four entities, fetal MRI provides complementary information in selected cases, while genetic testing and serological screening may help exclude chromosomal or infectious etiologies. Neurodevelopmental outcomes are broadly favorable when the finding is truly isolated, but the prognostic literature is limited by small samples, heterogeneous definitions of "isolated," short follow-up, and unstandardized neurodevelopmental assessments. Common themes across these entities are synthesized into a staged framework intended to support evidence-based parental counseling regarding the expected neurodevelopmental outcomes of these fetuses.

Indexed as

Blake’s pouch cystfetal MRIfetal neurosonographymega cisterna magnamild ventriculomegalyneurodevelopmental outcomenon-dilated ventricular asymmetryparental counselingprenatal ultrasound

Identifiers

PMID42882299
PMCPMC13664448

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.