What is Ventriculomegaly?
Ventriculomegaly is a brain condition which is defined by an increase in the size of the brain’s ventricular system. This increase is caused when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is trapped in the ventricles or spaces of the brain.
Treatment is usually only determined to be necessary if, an infant with ventriculomegaly, is also showing signs of developing hydrocephalus (an excess of fluid in the brain). Treatment drains away the CSF to reduce any pressure on the brain.
Signs of ventriculomegaly may include an abnormally large head, a rapid increase in head size over a period of time, sleepiness, vomiting and seizures with no identifiable cause.
Understanding brain-related symptoms and features
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The brain is the central organ of the nervous system, a system which includes not only the brain but also the sensory organs of the body, the spinal cords and the nerves that connect them all. The nervous system is how the different parts of the body communicate with each other and controls their responses to both internal and external stimuli.
Generally, symptoms affecting the brain can not be seen with the naked eye. Although diagnosing a brain related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.
Symptoms relating to the brain may affect other parts of the body and development, including intellectual ability as well as the ability to move, speak and other crucial bodily functions.
What should I do next?
In some instances enlarged brain ventricles may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Ventriculomegaly, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.