ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the value of prenatal ultrasonography on fetal forearm and crus malformations by studying the ultrasonographic characteristic in relation to methods of examination. Methods All fetus were evaluated by using a systematic continuous sequence approach (SCSA) with ultrasonography. A close attention was paid on shapes, structures and movement of fetal forearm and crus, and fetus specimens after induced labor were rescanned by ultrasonography under the condition of mimic intra-uterus. Results Thirty of 33 cases (90.9%) with fetal forearm and crus malformations (totally 48 of 54 limb anormalies, 88.9%) were correctly diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. Six limb malformations of 3 cases were missed. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the malformations of forearm and crus detected with prenatal ultrasonography are highly accordant with the malformations revealed in fetus in vitro. It is important to abide by the SCSA in ultrasonographic diagnosis of fetal forearm and crus malformation.