Intracranial translucency as a sonographic marker of open spina bifida at first trimester

Spina bifida is the one of the most common severe congenital abnormality of the central nervous system. Scalloping of the frontal bones called “the lemon sign” and caudal displacement of the cerebellum called “the banana sign” are known as cranial signs of open spina bifida on ultrasonography at the second trimester. Although these signs are useful methods in diagnosing of open spina bifida in the second trimester, detection rates of open spina bifida by using these signs in the first trimester are low. Intracranial translucency is a new sonographic landmark that may be valuable for the early detection of open spina bifida in the first trimester. In this study using of intracranial translucency as a sonographic marker of open spina bifida at first trimester is discussed with the light of recent literature.