Fetal thigh and upper-arm volumes by three-dimensional ultrasound to predict low postnatal body mass index.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of estimating fetal upper arm and thigh volumes as predictors of low postnatal body mass index (BMI) using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) with extended imaging virtual organ computer-aided analysis (XI VOCAL). METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study analyzed 300 singleton pregnancies between 33 and 41 weeks of gestation. The Hadlock 4 formula was used to estimate fetal weight. The XI VOCAL 10 planes method was used to assess fetal upper arm and thigh volumes. After delivery, the newborns' BMI was evaluated and considered low (≤10th percentile) or normal (>10th percentile). We determined receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and respective areas under the curves for the percentiles of fetal weight and fetal thigh and upper arm volumes. RESULTS: Of the 300 newborns, BMI was ≤10th percentile for 21 and >10th percentile for 279 newborns. The area under the ROC curve for fetal weight, obtained using the Hadlock formula, and fetal upper arm and thigh volumes, obtained by 3DUS, were 0.801, 0.930 and 0.924, respectively. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of the three parameters for predicting low postnatal BMI and found values of 85.70% and 65.60%, respectively, for fetal weight, 90.48% and 88.17%, respectively, for fetal thigh volume, and 76.19% and 92.47%, respectively, for fetal upper arm volume. CONCLUSION: Fetal upper arm and thigh volumes estimated using 3DUS with XI VOCAL were effective predictors of low postnatal BMI.

Prenatal diagnosis of intracranial immature teratoma in the third trimester using 2D and 3D sonography.

Intracranial tumors are uncommon and represent 0.5-1.5 % of all pediatric tumors. Teratoma is the most frequent intracranial tumor found at birth. Large teratomas are extremely rare and have a guarded prognosis since they grow fast and cause brain tissue destruction. A 31-week primigravida was referred to our hospital for investigation of an intracranial mass seen in the fetus. Two-dimensional ultrasound showed a large heterogeneous solid mass with calcifications inside, measuring 5.3 × 4.8 cm. It was in the right cerebral hemisphere at the level of the middle and posterior fossa, thereby shifting the midline and causing severe ventriculomegaly that measured 3.5 cm at the level of the lateral ventricle. Three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) in multiplanar mode allowed us to assess the anatomical relationships between the mass and the midline structures. The neurosurgical team, who had suspected that the case was inoperable, was thus able to gain a better understanding of the case. Transfontanellar ultrasound was performed on the day after the birth and confirmed the previous findings. Moreover, a biopsy confirmed the histology of the mass: it was an immature teratoma. The infant died on the 24th day of life after a large expansion of head circumference. Intracranial teratomas are extremely severe because of their quick growth and mass effect, often leading to neonatal death within days. 3DUS is a new prenatal diagnostic method that makes it possible to assess the anatomical relationships between the mass and the intracranial structures, thus enabling better preoperative planning.

Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal findings of cephalothoracopagus janiceps disymmetros: a case report.

Conjoined twins are rare variants of monozygotic twins, which result from an incomplete division of the embryonic disk. Cephalothoracopagus is a rare twin pregnancy described as imperfect fusion of the head and chest, but separated columns, limbs, and pelvis. They occur with incidence rates that range from 1 per 50,000 to 1 per 100,000 births; however, the incidence of the cephalothoracopagus variety is 1 per 58 conjoined twins. In the case of identical and symmetric faces caused by the orientations of the 2 notochordal axes that are perfectly ventroventral, they are called janiceps disymmetros. We present a prenatal diagnosis of a typical case of cephalothoracopagus janiceps disymmetros and the diagnostic confirmation by image and pathology exams.

Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes amputados do Lar Escola São Francisco - estudo comparativo de 3 períodos diferentes / Epidemic profile of the amputee patients from Lar Escola São Francisco - comparison study between 3 different periods

Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo através da revisão de 262 prontuários de pacientes amputados do Lar Escola São Francisco - São Paulo, no período de janeiro de 1998 a dezembro de 2002, com o objetivo de traçar o perfil epidemiológico do serviço. Houve predomínio do sexo masculino (71 por cento), de amputações de membro inferior (85,9 por cento), sendo a acima do joelho predominante (52,4 por cento). A etiologia vascular foi a principal causa de amputação em pacientes com mais de 50 anos (72,9 por cento). Observou-se demora no início da reabilitação (média de 19,6 meses) e que o tempo médio de tratamento (10,7 meses) é maior que o descrito na literatura. Além disso, um número pequeno de pacientes adquire prótese (25,2 por cento). Posteriormente, correlacionamos nossos dados com 02 estudos anteriores realizados neste mesmo serviço, visando comparar os resultados obtidos em três períodos diferentes e observamos progressos no processo de reabilitação dos pacientes amputados atendidos em nossa Instituição.