Is it normal for the lateral ventricles to be narrow?

Everyone hopes that their baby can come into the world healthy, which makes many pregnant women full of expectations throughout the pregnancy. When many pregnant women have prenatal check-ups in the second trimester, they often see words like "the lateral ventricle is not wide" on the B-ultrasound report. However, due to our lack of knowledge of some medical knowledge, we often don’t know whether such symptoms are normal. So let’s find out together whether it is normal for the lateral ventricle to be not wide?

Is it normal for the lateral ventricles to be narrow?

The normal size of the fetal lateral ventricle should be less than 1 cm. 1 to 1.5 cm is considered mild, and more than 1.5 cm is abnormal. Hydrocephalus refers to the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system, which causes the expansion of the lateral ventricular system and increased pressure, and manifests as enlarged ventricles on ultrasound examination. Generally, a widening of the trigone of the lateral ventricle by 1.5 cm is considered ventricular enlargement, and the wider the area, the more serious the enlargement. If the triangle is 1.2 to 1.4 cm wide and the choroid plexus occupies more than 50% of the ventricle, it is generally considered normal. If the choroid plexus is shrunk and becomes suspended, hydrocephalus is considered to be present.

There are many causes of hydrocephalus. In addition to excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid, it is also caused by absorption disorders or blockage of the cerebral aqueduct. Certain diseases such as intracranial hemorrhage, infection, etc., their sequelae can lead to hydrocephalus, and hydrocephalus can occur at any time during pregnancy. Therefore, even if the brain development is normal in the second trimester, hydrocephalus may occur in the third trimester. Therefore, ultrasound examination during pregnancy is very necessary. In addition, some situations may be mistaken for hydrocephalus. Experienced ultrasound doctors will compare relevant factors and make a well-founded diagnosis. Mild abnormalities found during pregnancy can be accurately diagnosed through dynamic observation.

The enlargement of the lateral ventricles is mostly caused by excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the fetus. Most of the fetuses can absorb it by themselves in the later stages. Do another ultrasound every few weeks to see if it continues to widen. Another point is that if the lateral ventricles widen too much, the doctor will suspect hydrocephalus. In addition to the enlargement of the ventricles, another obvious accompanying symptom of hydrocephalus is spina bifida. So when you do the ultrasound, ask the doctor to help you check whether the fetus has spina bifida. If not, the fetus should be healthy.

The above is our understanding of whether it is normal for the lateral ventricles to be narrow. Through understanding, we know that it is normal for the fetus's lateral ventricles to be narrow. If the ventricles are widened, there is a risk of hydrocephalus, which is particularly detrimental to the growth and development of the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women must maintain a good mentality during pregnancy, which is beneficial to the growth and development of the fetus. In addition, we must pay attention to eating more light and nutritious foods in our daily diet.