Objective: The objective of the study was to identify a cerebral ultrasound finding indicative of fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection at midgestation.
Study design: All fetuses of 218 patients with primary CMV infection underwent prospective transvaginal neurosonographic examination at 20-22 weeks' gestation.
Results: Transvaginal sonography identified a periventricular echogenic halo with well-defined borders in 6 infected fetuses at a mean gestational age of 20.5 weeks. Transabdominal axial views of the fetal head were normal in all cases. All patients opted for termination of pregnancy. Autopsy in 2 fetuses showed changes compatible with subacute white matter injury resembling telencephalic leukomalacia.
Conclusion: A fetal cerebral periventricular halo disclosed by transvaginal sonography at midgestation in pregnant patients with recent CMV infection is suggestive of fetal infection and may be associated with white matter lesions.
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