The new approach in the location of the fetal conus medullaris and its application in tethered cord syndrome / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the position of the fetal conus medullaris during pregnancy and its value in detecting tethered cord syndrome(TCS). Methods Nine hundred and seventy-four normal fetuses and 46 fetuses with TCS between 15 and 41 weeks gestation were involved in the study.Parameters D 1 (the distance between the end of the conus medullaris and the caudal edge of last vertebral body ossification center) and D2 (the distance from the end of the conus medullaris to the caudal skin namely the intersection point of the extending line of D1 and the skin) were measured in the caudal midsagittal plane of the spine. Sixty normal fetuses were chosed randomly for interobserver variability.Correlation analysis between these two parameters and gestational age(GA) were conducted and the normal reference value of these parameters were calculated in normal group. The ratios of growth parameters ( Biparietal diameter, Head circumference,Abdominal circumference,Femur length) to D1 and D2 were calculated separately to observe the difference of the ratios between two groups. All the parameters and ratios of normal fetuses were compared with that of TCS cases.Results There was no significant difference in D1 and D2 between two observers.A significant linear correlation between the parameters and GA was found in normal group,linear regression equations were D1=0.251 GA -2.265 cm (R2=0.926,P <0.01) and D2=0.267 GA -1.812 cm(R2=0.928,P <0.01),respectively.D1 and D2 were much lower in normal group than in abnormal group (all P <0.01). The ratios of the growth parameters to D1 and D2 were relatively stable and had statistically differences between two groups in different gestational age. Conclusions The methods that determination of D1 and D2 are simple and feasible,and could help to the prenatal diagnosis of TCS.

An approach to screen fetal agenesis of the corpus callosum at 11-13(+6) weeks / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect structural changes in the brain in fetuses with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) and holoprosencephaly (HPE) in the first trimester.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ultrasound data were analyzed retrospectively in 620 normal singleton fetuses between 11 and 13(+6) gestational weeks, 5 fetuses diagnosed to have ACC, and 13 fetuses with HPE. The midbrain diameter (MD) and falx diameter (FD) were measured and their ratio (MD/FD) was calculated for comparative analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was found in the MD, FD, and MD/FD ratio between fetuses with ACC and HPE (P>0.05). Compared to the normal fetuses, all the fetuses with ACC and HPE showed significantly increased mean MD and MD/FD ratio (P<0.05); 4 (80%) fetuses with ACC and 11 (84.6%) with HPE had a reduced FD. All the fetuses with ACC and HPE had MD/FD ratios greater than 1, which were below 1 in all the normal fetuses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the first trimester, fetuses with ACC and HPE have measurable abnormalities in the midbrain and falx area of the brain, and these changes, represented by abnormal midsagittal MD, FD and their ratio, can be of value in detecting ACC or HPE in fetuses in the first trimester.</p>

Correlation of ultrasonographic and pathological features in mucinous cancer of the breast / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To investigate ultrasonographic (US) features of mucinous breast carcinoma with pathological correlation and to improve the early diagnosis for the mucinous breast carcinoma.Methods Twenty-two patients with 23 focuses mucinous carcinoma of the breast confirmed by pathology were included in this study,retrospectively evaluate sonographic features according to the American College of Radiology(ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System(BI-RADS) Lexicon,all cases were classified by BI-RADS before operation.Histological type of mucinous breast carcinoma included mixed and pure two forms,the latter was classified into cellular variants and hypocellular variants.The correlation between the ultrasonographic findings of mucinous carcinoma and histologic features in different types were analysed.Results On US examination,all 22 cases presented as solid mass.In pure form,they showed well-defined margins with no pseudocapsule and isoechogenic or hypoechoic internal echo pattern relative to that of subcutaneous fat in 86.7％ (13/15) focuses which histological type were pure type.93.3％ (14/15) of pure type focuses had posterior enhancement.All pure type focuses demonstrated that the orientation of the mass is parallel to the skin line.75.0％ (6/8) of mixed type focuses and 13.3％ (2/15) of pure type focuses,however,demonstrated ill-defined and or spiculated margins with more hypoechogenic structure (P ＜0.01).Mixed type focuses have more aggressive malignant features.65.2％ (15/23) of cases being classified as BI-RADS 4 or 5 were suspected as malignancy,which included 6 mixed type focuses and 9 pure type respectively accounting for 75.0％ (6/8) and 60.0％ (6/15) of each type focuses.Conclusions Mucinous breast carcinoma especial pure type did not have the typical malignant breast masses sonographic features,which showed some benign masses sonographic features except no pseudocapsule benign feature.Mixed type mucinous carcinomas tumors have more aggressive margin imaging characteristics.It is suggested that mucinous breast carcinoma should be classified category 4 by BI-RADS to avoid diagnosis delay.