Prenatal diagnosis, phenotypic and obstetric characteristics of holoprosencephaly.

The diagnosis of fetal malformations, especially those of the central nervous system, is strikingly important in the practice of genetic counseling. Early diagnosis is very significant, not only because of the prognosis, but also because of the emotional effects caused by the accompanying craniofacial malformations. The summary of the obstetrical and diagnostical characteristics should be useful in the management of holoprosencephaly. The analysis of the 50 cases we encountered between 1981 and 2000, including the anatomical, diagnostic and clinical aspects, as well as the associated craniofacial malformations, forms the essence of our publication. In one of the examined cases a familiar recurrence was verified.