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Sonographic imaging of the fetal azygous vein. Normal and pathologic appearance.
Author(s) -
Belfar H L,
Hill L M,
Peterson C S,
Young K,
Hixson J,
Kislak S,
Martin J G
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.1990.9.10.569
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , vein , gestational age , inferior vena cava , radiology , anatomy , pregnancy , surgery , genetics , biology
Sonologists should be familiar with the frequency of resolution and the ultrasonic appearance of the normal fetal azygous vein. In this study, 66 consecutive uncomplicated pregnancies were scanned to determine the frequency of imaging the fetal thoracic azygous vein. Between 21.7 and 30 gestational weeks, the azygous vein could be imaged in 50% of the cases and measured 1‐2 mm in caliber. In the last 10 weeks of pregnancy, the azygous vein could be imaged in 98% of the cases and measured 2‐4 mm. A case of fetal azygous continuation of the inferior vena cava is shown where the vein was abnormally dilated to a caliber of 8 mm.