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Common Neurosurgical Conditions in the Pediatric Practice pp 233–241Cite as

Prenatal Counseling for Fetal Diagnoses

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Abstract

The first reported case of a prenatally diagnosed fetal structural anomaly was in 1970 when anencephaly in a fetus was detected utilizing ultrasound [1]. Since that time, prenatal diagnosis of many other congenital brain anomalies has been described, with high detection rates reported at experienced centers. The diagnosis and prognosis for the most severe brain anomalies, including anencephaly, acrania, holoprosencephaly, and hydanencephaly, are usually unambiguous. For other conditions, however, the prognosis may be less straightforward, and depends on factors such as the characteristics of the specific lesion, and the presence or absence of associated anomalies. In this chapter we outline advances in the detection of fetal abnormalities and the prenatal counseling process that such findings initiate.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Stephen T. Chasen M.D.

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  1. Stephen T. Chasen M.D.
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Correspondence to Stephen T. Chasen M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    Jeffrey P. Greenfield

  2. Manhattan Pediatrics, New York, New York, USA

    Caroline B. Long

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Chasen, S.T. (2017). Prenatal Counseling for Fetal Diagnoses. In: Greenfield, J., Long, C. (eds) Common Neurosurgical Conditions in the Pediatric Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3807-0_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3807-0_17

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