A new approach for quantitative assessment of fetal general movements in the early second trimester of pregnancy using four-dimensional ultrasound.

Purpose: Complex fetal behavior involving multiple parts of the body, called general movement (GM), has been considered an essential predictor of neurological functional development because it directly reflects the integrity of the brain and central and peripheral nervous systems. We have developed a novel method for quantitative analysis of fetal behavior using four-dimensional ultrasound (4DUS) and conducted a pilot study for quantitative assessment of fetal GM in the early second trimester.

Methods: All subjects underwent 4DUS to depict the whole fetal body, and maximum velocity (MAXV), median velocity (MV), average velocity (AV), and mode velocity (MOV) were calculated by utilizing optical flow analysis.

An incidental finding of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm during cesarean section: A case report.

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are rare and difficult to diagnose preoperatively because of a lack of characteristic symptoms. A 24-year-old female with no symptoms before pregnancy underwent an elective cesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation because of cephalo-pelvic disproportion. Although no abnormalities were detected in the newborn, uterus, or uterine adnexa, a sausage-like, swollen appendix was noted.

Feasibility assessment for successfully visualizing the fetal heart utilizing spatiotemporal image correlation.

Purpose: Spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) is an excellent imaging modality for observing the fetal heart. High-quality STIC volume data are needed for an antenatal anatomic survey to diagnose congenital heart disease. We aimed to clarify the causes of unsuccessful STIC volume data acquisition and describe a more accurate, efficient STIC examination.

Three-dimensional HDlive imaging of an umbilical cord cyst.

Umbilical cord cysts (UCC) are a rare congenital malformation. Previous reports have suggested that the second- and third-trimester UCC may be associated with other structural anomalies or chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore, high-quality imaging is clinically important for the antenatal diagnosis of UCC and to conduct a precise anatomical survey of intrauterine abnormalities.