Prenatal Sonographic Features of Cri-du-Chat Syndrome: A Review and Case Study

Abstract

Cri-du-Chat syndrome (CdCS) is a rare but serious genetic disorder. Most cases occur de novo, without specific risk factors as an indication of invasive prenatal diagnosis. Moreover, no specific ultrasound findings have been reported to facilitate early detection. This study presents a case of CdCS with fetal ultrasound findings of cerebellar hypoplasia and peri-membranous ventricular septal defect (VSD), which are consistent with previous reports, as well as coarctation of the aorta and hypercoiling cord, which have never been described in CdCS before. Additionally, we performed an analytical literature review to identify the sonographic pattern facilitating prenatal diagnosis. Based on the review of 47 reported cases, most CdCS fetuses (87.2%) had ultrasound characteristics: cerebellar hypoplasia (29.8%), followed by cardiac abnormalities (19.1%), hydrops fetalis/fluid collection (17.0%), ventriculomegaly (14.9%), choroid plexus cyst (12.8%) and nasal bone hypoplasia (12.8%). Increased nuchal translucency/nuchal fold thickness was also common. This is the first study providing a fetal sonographic pattern of CdCS that may facilitate early diagnosis.