Diagnostic approach to fetal ventriculomegaly.

Ventriculomegaly (VM) is defined as an enlargement of the lateral ventricles of the developing fetal brain. The diagnosis is easily made by measuring the lateral ventricle width at the level of the atrium, which is normally <10 mm. VM is defined as mild when the atrial width is 10-12 mm, moderate 12-15 mm, severe >15 mm.

Survival outcomes of twin-twin transfusion syndrome stage I: a systematic review of literature.

Objective: To review literature about treatment of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) stage I.

Materials: A search in PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and reference lists was performed. Inclusion criteria were TTTS diagnosed with standard criteria and classified with Quintero staging and survival rates (SR) stratified for stage and first-choice treatment.

Neuroimaging of ventriculomegaly in the fetal period.

Fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly (VM) is defined as an enlargement of the lateral ventricles of the developing fetal brain. It is diagnosed when the width of one or both lateral ventricles, measured at the level of the atrium, is ≥10 mm. VM is defined as mild when the atrial width is 10-15 mm and severe when >15 mm.

Neonatal outcomes of assisted and naturally conceived twins: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To review the neonatal outcomes of assisted reproductive technique (ART) vs. naturally conceived (NC) twins.

Methods: A search in PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane library was performed (January 2000-September 2010).

Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of pelvic benign multicystic mesothelioma associated with high CA19.9 serum concentration.

We report a case of benign multicystic mesothelioma in a 20-year-old woman referred because of amenorrhea. She underwent pelvic transabdominal ultrasound, which disclosed a micropolycystic appearance of the ovaries and a fluid collection in the pouch of Douglas. Tumor serum markers revealed an increase in CA19.

Cavum veli interpositi cyst: prenatal diagnosis and postnatal outcome.

Objective: The cavum veli interpositi (CVI) is a space within the double-layered tela choroidea of the third ventricle. Occasionally, this space is fluid-filled and sonographically visible as an interhemispheric anechoic cyst. Because of its rarity, the incidence of CVI cyst is undetermined and the outcome of affected individuals has been found to be variable.

The efficacy of Quintero staging system to assess severity of twin-twin transfusion syndrome treated with laser therapy: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Severity of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is classified in five stages according to Quintero staging. However, the efficacy of such staging was recently debated. We reviewed the efficacy of Quintero staging to predict survival rate in TTTS treated with laser therapy.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a condition unique to monochorionic pregnancies, although very few case reports described the syndrome in dichorionic placentas. The aetiology of TTTS relies in the presence of at least 1 arterio-venous placental anastomosis, through which unequal blood exchange from one twin (donor) to the co-twin (recipient) occurs. The diagnosis of TTTS relies on the sonographic detection of oligohydramnios in the donor's sac and polyhydramnios in the recipient's sac in the second trimester, although signs of TTTS are present since the first trimester.

Umbilical cord occlusion for selective feticide in complicated monochorionic twins: a systematic review of literature.

The aim of this study was to review literature concerning selective feticide (SF) in monochorionic pregnancies complicated with twin-twin transfusion syndrome, twin reversed arterial perfusion, severe malformation, and discordant growth. The remaining twins' outcomes were stratified for indication and surgical technique. Three hundred forty-five cases of SF were reviewed.

Comparison of donor and recipient outcomes following laser therapy performed for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a meta-analysis and review of literature.

We reviewed current literature about donor and recipient outcomes after laser therapy performed for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Study inclusion criteria were monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies, TTTS diagnosed with standard criteria, survival, and cerebral anomalies rates defined individually for donors and recipients. Exclusion criteria were studies including triplets and monoamniotic pregnancies, therapeutic techniques different from laser therapy, data reported in graphs or percentage, and non-English language publications.

Comparison of six sonographic signs in the prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida.

Aims: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of sonographic signs that may be looked for in fetuses with spina bifida.

Methods: Forty-nine fetuses affected by spina bifida were enrolled, at a gestational age of 18-28 weeks. The following sonographic signs were looked for: "lemon" sign, small cerebellum, effaced cisterna magna, small posterior fossa, ventriculomegaly and direct visualization of a spinal defect.

Maternal morbidity following a trial of labor after cesarean section vs elective repeat cesarean delivery: a systematic review with metaanalysis.

This study reviewed maternal morbidity following trial of labor (TOL) after cesarean section, compared with elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCS). Articles were pooled to compare women planning vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) with those undergoing ERCS with regard to maternal morbidity (MM), uterine rupture/dehiscence (UR/D), blood transfusion (BT), and hysterectomy. The former group was subdivided into successful VBAC (S-VBAC) and failed TOL (F-TOL).

Laser therapy and serial amnioreduction as treatment for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a metaanalysis and review of literature.

Objective: The objective of the study was to review current controversy on laser therapy (LT) vs serial amnioreduction (SA) performed for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Study Design: A search in PubMed from 1997-2007 was performed. Inclusion criteria were diamniotic monochorionic pregnancy, TTTS diagnosed with standard parameters, and peri- and neonatal outcomes well defined.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors mimicking gynecological masses on ultrasound: a report of two cases.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are among the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Diagnosis of GIST on ultrasound examination can be difficult because of their similarity in appearance to gynecological neoplasms. We present two cases of GIST originating from the small bowel and the stomach, which were preoperatively misdiagnosed as a uterine leiomyoma and an ovarian tumor, respectively.

Sonographic diagnosis of fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly: an update.

Dilatation of the fetal cerebral ventricles (ventriculomegaly) is a generic sonographic sign that is common to several pathological entities carrying different prognoses. The main causes of fetal ventriculomegaly are aqueductal stenosis, Chiari II malformation, Dandy-Walker complex, and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Ventriculomegaly is easily recognized by ultrasound by measuring the atrial width.

Fetal thymic involution: a sonographic marker of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is a relationship between the sonographic fetal thymus size and the presence of an intrauterine infection in patients with preterm labor.

Study Design: Thirty-one women who had been admitted with preterm labor and intact membranes between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation were included. Fetal thymus perimeter was measured sonographically, and amniocentesis for the microbiologic assessment of the amniotic cavity was performed.

[Sonoembryological criteria in the evaluation of gestational age].

Aim: The progressive appearance of specific embryological structures has been successfully used to define the ultrasonographic gestational age (GA). In our study we have revised this technique by comparing our results with the ones from Warren et al. obtained in 1989.

The midsagittal view of the fetal brain: a useful landmark in recognizing the cause of fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly.

Aim: To evaluate the positive predictive value of the midsagittal view of the fetal brain in recognizing the cause of ventriculomegaly diagnosed with traditional axial scan.

Methods: Fifty-eight pregnant women, referred to our Center following a generic diagnosis of ventriculomegaly have been evaluated: 38 had marked and 20 had borderline ventriculomegaly. The fetal brain was scanned by the midsagittal view using a transabdominal probe in fetuses in breech presentation or transverse lie and a transvaginal probe in fetuses in cephalic presentation.

The role of ultrasonography in recognizing the cause of fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly.

Dilatation of the fetal cerebral ventricles (ventriculomegaly) is a generic sonographic sign common to several pathological entities carrying different prognoses. The main causes of fetal ventriculomegaly are aqueductal stenosis, Chiari II malformation, Dandy-Walker complex and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Ventriculomegaly is easily recognized by ultrasound by measuring the atrial width.