Enhanced visualization of soft tissues in the study of aborted fetuses through the use of xeroradiography

Abstract

As part of the diagnostic workup following an episode of fetal loss, it is generally recommended that fetal tissue be submitted for chromosome analysis and that the fetus be photographed and radiographed. Our recent clinical experience has suggested that, in those fetuses where size is compatible, xeroradiography may be superior to standard radiography. Xeroradiography utilizes principles similar to those in film radiology, with low-energy photon beams and relatively long exposure times. The physical characteristics of the beam and imaging system provide optimal soft tissue visualization. We have found this technique to be of use in studying a broad variety of abortuses with abnormalities. Examples of fetal abnormalities in which we have used this technique include acardia, neural tube defects, nuchal cystic hygroma, and arthrogryposis. In fetuses weighing 500-1,000 gm, the exposure settings are 25 MA, 1 second, 40 KVP. For larger fetuses the KVP should be increased by 1 or 2. This technique has not been useful for a complete body view of large fetuses due to the size limitations of the xeroradiographic cassette itself.

Thanatophoric dysplasia: Fetal manifestations and prenatal diagnosis

“…Here we describe two fetuses with TD who were diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination at 20 and 34 weeks gestation and describe the fetal characteristics of the condition, including the imaging obtained by xeroradiography ; this technique is commonly used to image the human mammary gland and has been proposed as a method to define the fetal phenotype [Graham et al, 1984;Elejalde and de Elejalde, 19851.…”

“…Some of these conditions have been diagnosed by the measurement of one of the bones compared with the size of another part of the body such as the head, as in osteogenesis imperfecta I [Rumack et al, 19811, thanatophoric dwarfism [Cremin and Shaff, 19771, achondroplasia [Filly et al, 19811, Ellis van Creveld syndrome [Mahoney and Hobbins, 19771, achondrogenesis [Cooperberg, 19831, and diastrophic dysplasia [Mantagos et al, 19811. Other skeletal dysplasias have been diagnosed using a more detailed analysis of the fetal phenotype, including the measurement of all bones and the determination of growth centile for each of them: osteogenesis imperfecta I1 [Elejalde and de Elejalde, 19831, Weyers oligodactyly [Elejalde et al, 19851, Jeune syndrome [Elejalde et al, 19851. Here we describe two fetuses with TD who were diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination at 20 and 34 weeks gestation and describe the fetal characteristics of the condition, including the imaging obtained by xeroradiography ; this technique is commonly used to image the human mammary gland and has been proposed as a method to define the fetal phenotype [Graham et al, 1984;Elejalde and de Elejalde, 19851.…”