Diagnosis of Structural Abnormalities in the Fetus

Combined use of ultrasound and computed tomography in the evaluation of fetal intracranial abnormality

“…The ultrasonic findings in hydrocephaly are well documented [l, 2,3, 5] and the ultrasonic appearance of intracranial teratoma is illustrated in two case reports [3,4], In the present cases these fetal abnormalities involved special problems in antenatal ultrasonography. In the teratoma case it was not possible by ultrasound certainly to decide whether the tumor-like masses inside the/cranium were anomalous areas of brain tissue or some neoplasmatic tumor, and in the second case the deviation of the midline along with the poor visualization of the other brain hemisphere pointed to a porencephalic tendency, which carries a risk of a particularly poor postnatal prognosis [3].…”

“…In the teratoma case it was not possible by ultrasound certainly to decide whether the tumor-like masses inside the/cranium were anomalous areas of brain tissue or some neoplasmatic tumor, and in the second case the deviation of the midline along with the poor visualization of the other brain hemisphere pointed to a porencephalic tendency, which carries a risk of a particularly poor postnatal prognosis [3]. CT enabled a better tissue characterization to be made in the teratoma case, demonstrating the calcified parts of the tumor, and showed in case 2 that the ventricular System of the brain was dilated, but that the brain structures were otherwise intact.…”

Sonographic demonstration of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma

“…Sacrococcygeal teratoma has been characterized by both American and European perinatologists (DeVore and Hobbins, 1979;Feige etal., 1982) as a 'uniformly fatal fetal condition' (DeVore and Hobbins, 1979). Until now only four of the antenatally diagnosed cases survived, and in these instances the antenatal sonographic findifigs assisted the perinatal team.…”

Prenatal ultrasonic findings in congenital chloride diarrhoea

“…Marked to moderate polyhydramnios was diagnosed during the last trimester of pregnancy. The abovementioned ultrasonic findings previously described to be typical for fetal low (distal) ileus, mainly due to mechanical obstruction of the bowel, like intestinal or anal atresia, meconium ileus or Hirschprung disease (Nikapota and Loman, 1979;Bean et al, 1978;DeVore and Hobbins, 1979). In CCD no obstructive condition exists, and the intestinal distension is caused by massive loss of electrolytes and fluid into the intestine.…”