ABSTRACT
To evaluate the value of prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of single umbilical artery( SUA ) and fetal malformation . Methods T he characteristics of the prenatal ultrasound findings of 143 fetuses with SU A in different gestational weeks were retrospectively analyzed ,and the missing side of SU A were checked . Different types of SUA combined with fetal malformation were analyzed as well as chromosomal abnormalities and so on . Results For 143 fetuses with SU A ,there were 83 cases ( 58 .0% ) with absent left umbilical artery and 60 cases ( 42 .0% ) with absent right umbilical artery ,there was no statistical difference between the two groups ( P ＞0 .05 ) . Six cases ( 4 .2% ,6/143 ) were detected at and before 20 weeks of gestation ,and the rest 137 cases were detected after 20 weeks( 95 .8% ,137/143) . T here were 121 cases ( 84 .6% ) of isolated SUA ,22 cases ( 15 .4% ) were complicated with other malformations , including 10 cases ( 45 .5% ) with absent left umbilical artery and 12 cases ( 54 .5% ) with absent right umbilical artery . T here was no statistical difference between left and right umbilical artery deletion combined with fetal malformation( χ2 ＝1 .692 ,ν＝1 , P ＞0 .05) . T here were 11 cases( 7 .7% ,11/143) with cardiovascular malformation and nine cases ( 6 .3% , 9/143 ) with digestive system malformation . Chromosome examination was performed in 23 cases . One case of trisomy 18‐trisomy and 1 case of trisomy 13‐trisomy were found to be with missing right umbilical artery and all of them were complicated with multiple deformities . Conclusions The absence of left and right umbilical artery can be combined with abnormal fetal malformation . Prenatal ultrasonography can accurately diagnose SU A and fetal malformation .