Fetal pericallosal lipomas - Clues to diagnosis in the second trimester.

Introduction: Pericallosal lipomas (PCL) are congenital soft masses of adipose cells encapsulated by a thin layer of fibrous tissue, appearing adjacent to the corpus callosum (CC). The lipomas are usually diagnosed prenatally during the third trimester. The purpose of this study was to identify 2nd trimester ultrasound findings that may hint to a later diagnosis of PCL and to evaluate their MRI evolution.

Reduction of twin pregnancy to singleton: does it improve pregnancy outcome?

Objective: To compare pregnancy complications, obstetrical and neonatal outcome of twin pregnancies reduced to singleton, with both non-reduced twin pregnancies and singleton pregnancies.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound unit of a tertiary referral medical center. Patient's population included 32 bi-chorionic bi-amniotic twin pregnancies reduced to singleton and 35 non-reduced twin pregnancies.

Sleep and physical growth in infants during the first 6 months.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between infant sleep patterns and infant physical growth (weight for length ratio) using both objective and subjective sleep measures. Ninety-six first-born, healthy 6-month-old infants and their parents participated in the study. Infant sleep was assessed by actigraphy for four consecutive nights and by the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ).

Combined clinical and ultrasonographic work-up for the diagnosis of retained products of conception.

Retained products of conception (RPOC) present a major clinical challenge. We assessed the accuracy of an evaluation protocol based on clinical management and transvaginal ultrasonographic evaluation for the detection of retained products of conception. This combined clinical and sonographic evaluation protocol offers a high sensitivity for the accurate diagnosis of RPOC.

Evacuating retained products of conception in the setting of an ultrasound unit.

Women who have retained products of conception are usually referred for curettage or hysteroscopy, both performed in most cases under general anesthesia in an operating theater and sometimes requiring hospitalization. We propose that for most of these patients the procedure can be just as safely and effectively carried out in an obstetric ultrasound unit.

Cervical length, multifetal pregnancy reduction, and prediction of preterm birth.

Purpose: To evaluate the application of transvaginal sonography assessment of cervical length before fetal reduction for predicting spontaneous preterm birth in triplet gestations reduced to twins.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the ultrasound unit of a university-affiliated municipal hospital. The study cohort consisted of 25 women with triplet gestations following ovulation induction or assisted-reproduction techniques who underwent fetal reduction to twins.

A new power Doppler ultrasound guiding technique for improved testicular sperm extraction.

Objective: To develop a noninvasive procedure that employs image processing of power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) images of several orthogonal cross-sections of the testis to construct a three-dimensional (3D) mapping of preferential testicular regions in which spermatozoa are most likely to be found in nonobstructive azoospermic testes.

Design: Clinical study.

Setting: Ultrasound and andrology units in a large university-affiliated municipal hospital.

Sonographic detection of undescended testes in the third trimester.

Objective: To assess the sonographic detection rate of fetal undescended testes among a low-risk population during the third trimester.

Methods: A sonographic evaluation, which included biometric studies and a detailed examination of the fetal genitalia, was performed prospectively on 332 male fetuses of singleton pregnancies between 34 and 40 weeks' gestation. A qualified neonatologist examined the presence of the testes within the scrotum within 3 days after birth.