Main findings
We found atypical brain morphology in fetuses with isolated CDH at 28
weeks of gestation, both on qualitative and quantitative scoring of
different brain areas. By 33 weeks, the findings were less discrepant
from those observed in normal fetuses. However, most fetuses (40/42,
95%) underwent FETO in between, hence severity of hypoplasia may be
rather high and/or there may have been an effect of fetal surgery. We
also found a significant increase in volume of extra-axial and
ventricular fluid at 33 weeks of gestation in CDH.