BANANA SIGN

• Abnormal shape of the flattened cerebellum, which is inferiorly displaced and wraps around the brainstem.
• Cisterna magna obliterated.
• Sign present from about 14 weeks onward.
• Present throughout the gestation in 95-100% of cases (1-3).

REFERENCES

1. Thiagarajah S, Henke J, Hogge WA et.al. Early diagnosis of spina bifida: The value of cranial ultrasound markers. Obstet Gynecol 1990;76:54-57.
2. Van den Hof MC, Nicolaides KH, Campbell J et.al. Evaluation of the lemon and banana signs in one hundred and thirty fetuses with open spina bifida. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1990;162:322-327.
3. Goldstein RB, Podrasky AE, Filly RA et.al. Effacement of the fetal cisterna magna in association with memnigomyelocele. Radiology 1989;172:409-413.