Objectives To compare prospectively maternal acceptance of fetal and neonatal virtuopsy with that of conventional autopsy and to determine the confidence with which magnetic resonance (MR) virtuopsy can be used to diagnose normality/abnormality of various fetal anatomical structures. Methods

No abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the presenting symptoms, the effectiveness of imaging methods, and the surgical treatment of vascular rings. Data for 44 patients (32 enrolled prospectively, 12 reviewed retrospectively) over a 10-year period in a tertiary referral center were analyzed. These patients comprised 25 patients with a left aortic arch and an aberrant right subclavian artery, 13 patients with a right aortic arch and a left subclavian artery originating from Kommerell’s diverticulum, 1 patient with a right aortic arch and an aberrant left subclavian artery, 3 patients with a double aortic arch, and 2 patients with a pulmonary sling. Respiratory symptoms were found in 25 patients and dysphagia in 6 patients. Atypical symptoms such as reflex apnea, cyanosis, syncope episodes, and exercise-induced wheezing were noted in five patients. Associated congenital heart defects were detected in 41% of the patients. The diagnostic yield was 95.23% for barium esophagography, 54.54% for echocardiography, and 66.66% for computed tomography. The anatomy could be correctly identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 97.43% and by angiography in 90.5% of the patients. Of the 30 patients who underwent surgery, 80% were completely relieved of symptoms during a mean follow-up period of 25 ± 33.5 months. Vascular rings should not be overlooked in infants with atypical symptoms. The authors’ diagnostic procedure of choice is MRI because it is superior to angiography for delineating the relationship between abnormal vascular structures, trachea, and esophagus.

No abstract

Assessment of IgG and IgM antibodies followed by IgG avidity testing for inconclusive results may be an acceptable approach in pregnant women with unknown serological status prior to pregnancy. Utilization of IgG avidity as a supplemental test prevented unnecessary intervention in IgG and IgM antibodies positive patients. No primary infection was detected for CMV, rubella and T. gondii infections in the urban population screened.