Prenatal ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal facial anatomy and fetal facial malformations / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To review the ultrasonographic evaluation on fetal facial anatomy and malformations in prenatal diagnosis. Methods Continuous 4 200 prenatal ultrasonographic evaluation during gestation age 14 40 weeks from August 2000 through June 2002 entered the present study. Routine coronal, sagittal and transverse planes were applied to scan the fetal facial structures after the fetal position was confirmed and/or adjusted. Results Superficial facial anatomic structures as well as the deep bony structures of the fetal faces were clearly displayed and correctly recognized on the three routine planes in 4 184 cases ( 99.62 %), but not the palate. Seventy eight facial malformations of 29 fetuses were correctly diagnosed. Whereas 9 malformations of 7 fetuses were missed to recognize, and 2 suspected cleft palate were demonstrated normal after delivery. The diagnoses were confirmed after subsequent labor or induced labor. The total detection rate reached 89.66 %. The false negative rate was 10.34 %, and the false positive rate was 0.05 %. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values were 85.29 %, 99.95 %, 99.83 %, 93.55 % and 99.88 % respectively. Conclusions The majority of fetal facial superficial and deep structures is clearly demonstrated on prenatal ultrasonic imaging on the 3 routine scanning planes. Prenatal ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetal face is a reliable and accurate diagnostic modality so far as the skills become more sophisticated.