ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To construct new reference charts and equations for fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur diaphysis length (FDL) from Korean fetuses at 12-40 weeks. METHOD: Prospective cross-sectional data obtained in one center for 5 years from a population of pregnant women undergoing ultrasound examination between the 12th and 40th week of gestation. Exclusion criteria comprised all maternal and fetal conditions possibly affecting fetal biometry. No fetuses were excluded on the basis of abnormal biometry. For each measurement, regression models were fitted to estimate both the mean and the standard deviation at each menstrual age. RESULTS: Biometric measurements were obtained for 10 455 fetuses. New charts and reference equations are reported for BPD, HC, AC and FDL. Reference equations are cubic models. CONCLUSION: We present new Korean reference charts and equations for fetal biometry. They can be easily used in obstetric ultrasound studies for the Korean population.
Subject(s)
Biometry/methods , Fetus/anatomy & histology , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Abdomen/embryology , Female , Femur/embryology , Head/embryology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Korea , Parietal Bone/embryology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study is to provide reference values for the great vessels obtained from images of the three-vessel view of the fetal heart, with an emphasis on the size discrepancy of the great vessels. METHODS: From February 2003 to May 2003, the main pulmonary artery (MPA), ascending aorta (AA), and SVC were measured in well-dated, nonanomalous fetuses scanned at 14-38 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: The size of each great vessel had a significant positive relationship with advance in gestation (P < 0.001); MPA (mm) = -2.76 + 0.34 x GA, ascending aorta (AA) (mm) = -1.73 + 0.26 x GA - 1.18E - 05 x GA(3), and SVC (mm) = 0.33 + 0.01 x GA(2) - 4.12E - 05 x GA(3). The AA/MPA ratio was significantly decreased with advance in gestation, while the SVC/AA ratio was significantly increased; AA/MPA ratio = -1.24 - 0.03 x GA + 3.88E - 04 x GA(2); P < 0.001, SVC/AA ratio = 0.63 - 5.43E - 03 x GA + 1.96E - 04 x GA(2); P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: On the three-vessel view of the fetal heart, the interpretation of the size discrepancy of the great vessels needs to be adjusted according to fetal growth.
Subject(s)
Aorta/embryology , Fetal Development/physiology , Heart/embryology , Pulmonary Artery/embryology , Vena Cava, Superior/embryology , Adult , Aorta/diagnostic imaging , Echocardiography , Female , Gestational Age , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Prospective Studies , Pulmonary Artery/diagnostic imaging , Reference Values , Ultrasonography, Prenatal/methods , Vena Cava, Superior/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Multifetal gestations are high-risk pregnancies involving higher perinatal morbidity and mortality, and are subject to unique complications including twin oligohydramnios-polyhydramnios sequence, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, acardiac twins, conjoined twins, co-twin demise, and heterotopic pregnancies. The purpose of this study is to describe the prenatal ultrasonographic and pathologic findings of these complications.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy Complications/diagnostic imaging , Pregnancy, Multiple , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Female , Fetal Death/diagnostic imaging , Fetal Heart/abnormalities , Fetofetal Transfusion/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy, Ectopic/diagnostic imaging , Twins , Twins, ConjoinedABSTRACT
The early and accurate antenatal diagnosis of fetal musculoskeletal malfomations with a poor outcome has important implications for the management of a pregnancy. Careful ultrasonographic examination of a fetus helps detect such anomalies, and a number of characteristic features may suggest possible differential diagnoses. During the last five years, we have encountered 39 cases of such anomalies, and the typical prenatal ultrasonographic and pathologic findings of a number of those are described in this article.
Subject(s)
Fetal Diseases/diagnosis , Musculoskeletal Abnormalities/diagnosis , Prenatal Diagnosis , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Chondrodysplasia Punctata/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Musculoskeletal Abnormalities/diagnostic imaging , Osteogenesis Imperfecta/diagnosis , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Outcome , Radiography , Thanatophoric Dysplasia/diagnosisABSTRACT
A variety of neoplasms can develop in each fetal organ. Most fetal neoplasms can be detected by careful prenatal ultrasonographic examination. Some neoplasms show specific ultrasonographic findings suggesting the differential diagnosis, but others do not. Knowledge of the presence of a neoplasm in the fetus may alter the prenatal management of a pregnancy and the mode of delivery, and facilitates immediate postnatal treatment. During the last five years, we experienced 32 cases of fetal neoplasms in a variety of organs. We describe their typical ultrasonographic findings with correlating postnatal CT, MRI, and pathologic findings.
Subject(s)
Fetal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Lymphangioma/diagnostic imaging , Lymphangioma, Cystic/diagnostic imaging , Pregnancy , Teratoma/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Microdeletion of 22q11 is responsible for DiGeorge syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, congenital conotruncal heart defects, and related disorders. We report our experiences on prenatal diagnosis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for 22q11 deletion in two fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot. Karyotyping and FISH of the parents revealed that one fetus inherited the disease from maternal microdeletion. These findings suggest the importance of performing FISH in pregnancies with prenatally detected tetralogy of Fallot.
