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Color Doppler twinkling artifact in intrauterine fetal demise
Author(s) -
Ozkur Ayhan,
Dikensoy Ebru,
Kervancioglu Selim,
Kervancioglu Resat,
İnalöz Serhat,
Bayram Metin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.20381
Subject(s) - medicine , artifact (error) , demise , fetus , fetal heart , color doppler , doppler effect , radiology , pregnancy , ultrasonography , artificial intelligence , physics , astronomy , computer science , biology , political science , law , genetics
Purpose To determine whether twinkling artifacts on color and power Doppler sonography could be used as a new sonographic sign of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). Methods In this prospective study, 24 consecutive pregnant women with IUFD were included after fetal sonographic examinations. Sonographic examination included gray‐scale, color, power, and spectral Doppler imaging. The sonograms were then analyzed for the presence, appearance, and intensity of the twinkling artifacts. Results Twinkling artifacts on color Doppler were observed in all of the 24 IUFD as a rapidly changing color Doppler signal complex associated persistently with different parts of the fetal body. The artifacts were localized especially in the neck, back, and iliac regions. Artifact intensity correlated with the time elapsed since death. Conclusion Twinkling artifact was noted in all dead fetuses on color, power, and spectral Doppler examinations. Thus, the observation of these artifacts may be considered as a new sonographic sign of fetal demise, which may reflect the time elapsed since death. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008