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MRI of the Fetal Brain pp 201–216Cite as

Ventricular Dilatation

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Abstract

Several terms are used in the literature to describe the increase in size of the cerebral ventricular system. The word “hydrocephalus” refers to the progressive distension of the ventricles caused by the increase in the quantity of cerebrospinal fluid, but carries no indication as to its cause (either production or resorption disorder) [1]. Hydrocephalus causes the cranial perimeter to increase [2]. It is contrasted with the ventricular dilatation linked with a developmental abnormality of the cerebral hemispheres and with the in vacuo dilatation related to lesions of the cerebral parenchyma. The term “ventriculomegaly” is very frequently used in the English-language literature, although it only refers to the widening of one or several ventricles, regardless of the skull dimensions, and the cause of this dilatation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Imaging, Hôpital Robert Debré, 48 Boulevard Serrurier, 75935, Paris Cedex 19, France

    Catherine Garel MD

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  1. Catherine Garel MD
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© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Garel, C. (2004). Ventricular Dilatation. In: MRI of the Fetal Brain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18747-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18747-6_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62275-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18747-6

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