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Second‐trimester echogenic small bowel: An increased risk for adverse perinatal outcome
Author(s) -
Hill Lyndon M.,
Fries Joanne,
Hecker Julie,
Grzybek Patricia
Publication year - 1994
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.1970140913
Subject(s) - echogenicity , medicine , pregnancy , in utero , fetus , obstetrics , gestation , ultrasound , radiology , biology , genetics
2267 singleton fetuses who had one ultrasound examination between 15 and 21 weeks' gestation were prospectively evaluated for echogenic small bowel. Thirty‐two cases of echogenic small bowel were detected—a prevalence of 1·4 per cent. Echogenic fetal small bowel was divided into two grades: grade 1, where the small bowel was more echogenic than the liver; and grade 2, where the small bowel had the echogenicity of bone. In contrast to 19/23 fetuses with grade 1 small bowel echogenicity, only 2/9 fetuses with grade 2 echogenic bowel had a normal pregnancy outcome (Fisher's exact test; P ⩽0·01). Complications associated with second‐trimester echogenic small bowel included in utero cytomegalovirus infection, second‐trimester growth restriction, intrauterine fetal demise, and chromosomal abnormalities. Second‐trimester fetal echogenic small bowel is associated with an increased risk of an adverse outcome. The prevalence of perinatal and neonatal complications is significantly greater when small bowel echogenicity approaches that of bone.