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Small cerebellum?

23 replies

Laundrymountains · 27/09/2018 16:12

Hi ladies, I'm at 21w+2days and at scan today cerebellum measurement is 18.7mm. Doctor very concerned and says it's too small and 3 weeks off what it sud be. She had very scary talk then about implications. Otherwise baby absolutely fine. Any advise appreciated, not sure if dates cud be out or doctor just scare mongering or being overly cautious? I've been referred for MRI in 2 weeks... Thanks!!

OP posts:
comradelouise · 17/11/2018 14:30

Hi @Laundrymountains, I hope you are well and things are looking up. Can I ask how things progressed?

I'm asking because I'm actually in the same boat - 21 weeks pregnant with twins and just been diagnosed with a small cerebellum and a small nasal bone for one of them. Had an amnio which ruled out Downs, and had an MRI today, but not sure what else might be causing the small cerebellum!

Laundrymountains · 17/11/2018 15:32

Hi Comradelouise, I refused the MRI in the end as I didnt like the sound of it while pregnant. I had another 3D scan a few weeks later and the doctor could only give me a range of 19.5 - 21mm for the cerebellum and said it was just so difficult to get an accurate measurement. I was satisfied that it was at least growing. The doc was again patronising and told me again to consider an amnio but I really don't want to get that done. I've told my doc now I don't want to get any more scans until the final weeks and to let the baby grow in peace! Thats gone down like a lead balloon with her! This whole thing has been causing me so much stress and anxiety that I just need to get on and enjoy the pregnancy and trust my instinct that the baby is fine.
How did you get on with the MRI? Did you get a more accurate measurement? I reqd somewhere that this part if the brain stops growing around age 25! So I think as long as thr organ is there and well formed it can grow at different rates, I also read somewhere that the brain has a growth spurt around 21 weeks which may be a few weeks either way for different Mums.
Anyhow keen to know how you get on and try not to stress too much about it, I have a feeling it's just one more thing the docs give you to worry about... )-;

OP posts:
comradelouise · 17/11/2018 17:31

Thanks for the reply and everything you're saying totally makes sense!

I just did the MRI this morning, and they reckon I'll be waiting a week or 2 for results so trying not to worry too much in the meantime.

I totally empathise with you deciding to just get on with growing the baby :) I actually had a drama with my first pregnancy too: they found Edwards syndrome in the placenta, which limited her growth, so I was getting scanned up to 3 times a week to check she was ok. Born at 34 weeks but now she's nearly 2 and enormous! I spent half the pregnancy stressed out and now wish I'd just ignored the statistics and just relaxed more.

Her weight when she was born was quite a bit more than they were estimating so I agree with you, their measurements are inevitably a bit of a guess so you can't get too hung up on them.

Good luck with your pregnancy and keep me posted if you learn any more! You must be more like 30 weeks now I'm guessing :)

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Ironytheoppositeofwrinkly · 17/11/2018 17:32

How are the rest of baby's measurements looking?

comradelouise · 27/11/2018 18:44

Hello, @Laundrymountains, I got the MRI result today and it didn't really tell us a lot more. The central part of the cerebellum is fine but the "butterfly wings" on either side are very small. Basically it seems like it's likely motor function will be affected to some extent but we just have to wait and see how it grows. So they're telling me I'll have to go for another MRI at 30 weeks.

How's your situation looking? Hope things are going well

Laundrymountains · 21/01/2019 16:10

Hi Comradelouise, I just wanted to check in with you and see how you're getting on and if you've delivered yet? I'm at 38 weeks and have just been told I need to deliver in a big university hospital as where I had planned to deliver the Head of Pediatrics doesn't want to take responsibility for the baby as there was that suspicion at 20 week scan. No updates other than everything looking normal at 36 week scan. Anyhow fingers crossed everything went ok for you and your babs! (-;

OP posts:
comradelouise · 25/01/2019 17:08

Hi @Laundrymountains - I'm 31 weeks now, and just got the result from the 2nd MRI I had done at 30 weeks.

The consultant hasn't been able to tell me much looking at the result - it says something about a "slight risk of fusion across the midline" but neither she nor I knows what that means! The cerebellum is growing better now though, about 13th centile.

So they're sending me to a neurologist and geneticist now to find out more - hard to tell how worried I should be...

How are you doing? When are you due to deliver? Got my fingers crossed for you! x

comradelouise · 25/01/2019 17:09

Oh and also, my MRI result recommends doing a post-natal MRI, don't know if you might get that suggested for you too!

Meli13 · 02/09/2019 00:33

@comradelouise, Hi do you have any updates regarding your baby? I have been diagnosed with a small cerebellum at 26 weeks for my little boy and have been massively stressed out. I wont have an amniocentesis until around 33 weeks as can induce labour. Hooe you still see this thread as it's so hard to find anyone who has gone through this same problem. The uncertainty is killing me.

comradelouise · 02/09/2019 16:43

Hi @Meli13, yes after the post-natal MRI the paedetrician neurologist told us that she has a condition called rhombencephalosynapsis. The cerebellum looks like a butterfly and central stem bit is called the vermis - in my daughter the vermis is underdeveloped so there is a degree of fusion between the two "wings". (I don't know how much they've said to you so far, so apologies if I patronise you at any point!)

We don't really know yet how this is going to affect her. It seems likely that there will be some effect on her mobility and cognition, but hopefully it might be mild. We're a bit in the dark firstly because it's a rare condition, so there aren't many case studies, and the consultants I've seen don't necessarily have direct experience of it (I guess that also means it's not likely you'll get the same diagnosis).

And we're also in the dark because it's still really early days - obviously it's hard to tell if she'll have trouble walking or learning when she doesn't do much of either of those yet! We had a check up with the neurologist at 6 weeks old, and we've got another at 6 months old (in October), then I think the reviews might be annual?

I was really stressed when we first got the diagnosis but I'm more relaxed now. She does seem to be a bit behind her twin in development, but not massively so - she's smiling at us, and rolling over, just doing these things a week or two behind her sister. So I'm trying not to worry too much until I know more. That's the funny thing with twins - you have a "control" baby!

Like you I had an amnio, and that ruled out Downs and Edwards syndrome. One thing both the neurologist and my sister (who works with disabled children) said to me is that looking at physical images of the brain, like in an MRI, doesn't necessarily tell you much - you can see what looks like a minor injury, but the person's behaviour shows a big impact, or you can see a major injury and actually the person seems fine. Unfortunately that does leave you uncertain, and for me too that's the hardest bit!

I don't know if any of that helps at all, but please do shout if there's anything else you want to know, or if you just want someone to talk to. I felt (and still feel) frustrated by how little I was able to find out, so I know how hard it is with these things going around your head on your own xxx

Meli13 · 02/09/2019 17:57

Hi @comradelouise, thank you so much for replying. I would love to talk more. The frustration of such little info is driving me mad. Not used to this site but could I give you my direct email perhaps? Can explain in further detail. Not sure if that's allowed or not. Can I ask where you are based in the world I'm in London so just curious. Kind regards. Melissa

comradelouise · 03/09/2019 13:12

Yes of course! I'll DM you my email. I'm in London too :)

Angelmama03 · 19/07/2021 18:27

Hi @Laundrymountains, I just got off my 21 weeks anomaly scan and I was told that my baby's cerebellum measures 18.77 mm and small for his age and found this thread. Just checking how's your baby now? I am becoming stressed and really worried as my first born had an issue and didn't make it. So I'm really concerned about this things.

Crazyhouseplantlady · 11/09/2021 08:03

Hi @Angelmama03 how are you getting on? I’ve just had the same thing with my 20 week scan (although the sonographer didn’t pick it up, I noticed it in the report and contacted the midwife and they contacted the foetal medicine consultant). Waiting for another ultrasound with the consultant in a week’s time. Hope you’re doing ok x

KILNAMATRA · 11/09/2021 09:35

Brains have neuroplasticity, the ability to compensate, grow and adapt..

comradelouise · 12/09/2021 13:39

Just an update for anyone joining later to say my daughter with the small cerebellum is doing great :)

She is seeing a physio every couple of months, but they're pleased with her development and she can walk continuously, just a bit wobbly sometimes. It's possible she may have some mild learning difficulties but the neurologist is predicting she'll be in a mainstream school

Crazyhouseplantlady · 12/09/2021 15:28

That’s brilliant news @comradelouise so pleased to hear it 😊

comradelouise · 12/09/2021 20:29

Thanks @Crazyhouseplantlady! If you have any questions or just want a sounding board at all just shout. I remember feeling frustrated that it was a rare enough thing that there wasn't a lot of info or support out there

Nadialkm · 27/12/2022 09:26

Hello, I am expecting a little girl in May. Our doctor is also concerned about her cerebellum being too small. As a peace of mind, could you update us on how it's going with your girl?

comradelouise · 09/01/2023 22:26

My daughter's doing well: we are going to various support services but she's progressing well and we've just put in the school application for her to start next autumn. Our hope is that she will be able to manage in a mainstream school, with an assistant - we are applying for an EHCP at the moment.

We are going to speech therapy, as her speech is delayed relative to her twin sister's - but she does have a big vocabulary and learns library books off by heart within a day or two of us borrowing them, she's just not so good at responding conversationally. One challenge is that she has ADHD like symptoms, so struggles to sit still and pay attention, will wander off during mealtimes.

Mj2022 · 27/09/2023 18:43

Cerebellum <2.3% at 19 anomaly scan but saying baby is coming up at 17+2 on measurements. Anyone with any advice ? Thanks

Crazyhouseplantlady · 28/09/2023 15:23

We had a repeat scan 2/3 weeks later and got completely different measurements (like the opposite end of the scale), cerebellum was fine, he’s a very healthy happy 20 month old now!

Mj2022 · 28/09/2023 19:24

Thank you so much for your reply

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