Prenatal diagnosis of ultrasound and MRI in the simple fetal indirect hernia / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of ultrasound and MRI in diagnosis of simple fetal indirect hernia.MethodsA total of 671 558 fetuses were examined in maternal and child healthcare hospital of Hubei from February 2003 to February 2015. Once inguinal hernia or testicular tumors was suspected, MRI examination was performed after prenatal ultrasound. Final diagnosis was confirmed by postnatal follow-up. The ultrasonographic characteristics of fetal indirect hernia were compared with prenatal MR image characteristics and postnatal follow-up results.ResultsThree cases were conifrmed after birth. The simple fetal indirect hernia was uncommon clinical entity which occurred during 3rd trimester. The ultrasonic characteristics in prenatal period were (1) Right enlarged scrotum was iflled with heterogeneous lesion; intestinal peristalsis within the scrotum was found in real-time ultrasonography. (2) The contralateral testis in left scrotum and penis could be found. MRI could display the characteristicsof indirecthernia contents and its extension from abdominal cavity intoinguinalregion, which may help diagnose fetal simple indirect hernia. One case of fetal indirect hernia was misdiagnosed as testicular tumors, which was correctly diagnosed by MRI.ConclusionsThe simple fetal indirect hernia can be prenatally diagnosed by characteristic ultrasonic features, which can present with abnormal mass ininguinalregion. Prenatal ultrasound is the primary screening method of fetal indirect hernia. MRI can serve as a supplement approach. The combination of US and MRI can further improve the diagnostic accuracy of fetal indirect hernia.