ABSTRACT
Type 1 cystic sacrococcygeal teratomas, usually associated with good outcome following neonatal resection, must be differentiated at the time of prenatal diagnosis from sonographically similar meningomyeloceles, which carry a grave prognosis. We present an unusual case in which color Doppler imaging assisted correct midtrimester prenatal diagnosis of a large type 1 cystic sacrococcygeal teratoma closely simulating a meningomyelocele.
Subject(s)
Coccyx/diagnostic imaging , Fetal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Meningomyelocele/diagnostic imaging , Sacrum/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Teratoma/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Fetal Diseases/classification , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Pregnancy , Sacrum/blood supply , Spinal Neoplasms/blood supply , Spinal Neoplasms/classification , Spinal Neoplasms/pathology , Teratoma/blood supply , Teratoma/classification , Teratoma/pathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To review current data pertaining to prenatal ultrasonography of the ductus venosus. DATA SOURCES: We identified English-language studies regarding prenatal ultrasonography and the fetal ductus venosus. The studies were obtained from a MEDLINE search for the period 1966 through March 1996. Additional sources were identified through cross-referencing. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: We reviewed all published reports, case studies, and articles regarding ultrasonographic morphology, physiology, and pathophysiology of the fetal ductus venosus. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Knowledge of the function of the fetal ductus venosus in both normal and abnormal fetal conditions is increased by prenatal ultrasonographic data. Altered ductus venosus hemodynamics may be noted in various medical conditions that include fetal growth restriction, twin-twin transfusion, invasive diagnostic procedures (chorionic villus sampling and fetal blood sampling), fetal anemia and transfusion, complex cardiac structural anomalies, and cardiac arrhythmias. CONCLUSION: Blood flow velocity in the fetal ductus venosus reflects the pressure gradient between the umbilical vein and the cardiac atria. Knowledge of pathophysiologic hemodynamic changes of blood flow in this vessel obtainable by prenatal ultrasonography in conjunction with fetal disease may assist diagnosis and management.
Subject(s)
Fetus/blood supply , Ultrasonography, Doppler , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Umbilical Veins/diagnostic imaging , Vena Cava, Inferior/diagnostic imaging , Blood Flow Velocity , Female , Fetal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Fetal Growth Retardation/diagnostic imaging , Fetofetal Transfusion/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Pregnancy , Umbilical Veins/physiology , Vena Cava, Inferior/embryology , Vena Cava, Inferior/physiologyABSTRACT
Prenatal diagnosis of pericardial masses are infrequent and usually consist of intrapericardial teratomas or haemangiomas. We present the first report of prenatal diagnosis of a suspected pericardial cyst at 14 weeks' gestation which was subsequently confirmed by neonatal computed tomography.
