EP05.21: Postnatal outcome of fetal cortical malformations: systematic review of the literature

To undertake a systematic review of the current literature on the natural history, pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcome of fetuses diagnosed with malformations of cortical development. A PubMed literature search was conducted for articles between 2013 and 2023 using standardised key words to describe fetal cortical malformations. Full-text articles were accessed for the retrieved citations to allow data extraction. A total of 21 articles containing 252 cases of fetal MCDs were reviewed. The cases were classified as being complex (n = 229; multiple malformations, genetic, hemorrhage and infections), isolated (n = 14) or not stated (n = 9). There were a total of 92 medical abortions and three stillbirths, with pregnancy outcomes unreported in 93 cases. In nine cases, a diagnosis of complex fetal cortical malformation was changed to isolated after birth. There were 55 livebirths with postnatal neurodevelopment available in only 19 cases (all complex). Normal neurodevelopmental outcome was reported in five infants (26.32%; 95% CI = 9.15% to 51.2%) with the remaining 14 exhibiting various levels of neurodevelopmental delay (3 mild, 4 moderate and 7 severe) from 1 to 6 years of age. The majority of cases with fetal cortical malformations are complex in nature and underwent medical abortion. There is a paucity of data on postnatal neurological development in fetuses diagnosed with cortical malformations. The available data suggests prenatal over-diagnosis of case severity in about 5% of cases with approximately 35% of cases reporting either normal neurodevelopment or mild neurodevelopmental delay. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.