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Correlation between prenatal ultrasound and fetal autopsy findings in fetal anomalies terminated in the second trimester
Author(s) -
Akgun Hulya,
Basbug Mustafa,
Ozgun Mahmut Tuncay,
Canoz Ozlem,
Tokat Fatma,
Murat Nurcan,
Ozturk Figen
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.1710
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , autopsy , obstetrics , prenatal diagnosis , ultrasound , pregnancy , prenatal ultrasound , urinary system , prospective cohort study , radiology , surgery , pathology , genetics , biology
Objective The aim of the study was to compare the consistency of major/minor fetal anomalies detected by second trimester prenatal ultrasound examination with the findings in fetal autopsies following the termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the second trimester. Design In a 4‐year long prospective study, 107 second‐trimester TOP was performed due to fetal malformation diagnosed by second trimester‐ultrasound examination at a tertiary referral center. Ultrasound findings were compared with fetal autopsy findings. Result Of the 107 cases with major fetal anomalies diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound, 49% had central nervous system anomalies, 23% had kidney and urinary tract anomalies, 11% had congenital heart disease. All of these major anomalies leading to TOP were confirmed by fetal autopsy (100% success rate in major anomalies). Overall success rate in prenatal ultrasound for major and minor anomalies was 77%. The percentage of additional minor anomalies detected in fetal autopsies was 20%. Three percent of the minor anomalies detected by prenatal ultrasonography could not be confirmed during autopsy. Chromosomal anomalies were detected in 9 (16%) out of 57 cases. Conclusion Evaluation of fetal autopsies following TOP enables diagnosis of pathologies undetected by prenatal ultrasound alone, leading to better preconceptional counseling for subsequent pregnancies. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.