Alobar holoprosencephaly - antenatal

Case contributed by Ammar Haouimi
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

G2P1 at 16 weeks gestation. Routine ultrasound.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Female
ultrasound

The ultrasound images demonstrate:

  • the supratentorial cerebral parenchyma is replaced by a large central monoventricle with a thin rim of peripheral parenchyma
  • fused thalami
  • absent midline structures (septum pellucidum, corpus callosum, and falx cerebri)
  • hypotelorism
  • small midline structure of the fetal forehead suggestive of a proboscis
Annotated image

Annotated images:

  • white arrow: small midline structure of the fetal forehead suggestive of a proboscis
  • yellow arrow: hypotelorism
  • red arrows: rim of cerebral cortex
  • blue arrows: fused thalami

Case Discussion

Ultrasound findings most consistent with alobar holoprosencephaly

The main differential diagnosis includes:

  • hydranencephaly
    • thalami usually visible and not fused
    • falx cerebri usually present
    • no associated midline facial abnormalities
    • no cortex present, or sometimes small islands of tissue
  • severe hydrocephalus
    • thalami not fused
    • no associated midline facial abnormalities
    • falx cerebri usually present
    • bilateral choroid plexus

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.