First trimester supratentorial and infratentorial abnormalities in fetuses with open spina bifida.

Objectives: To examine whether supratentorial, infratentorial, and calvarial manifestations of open spina bifida (OSB) occur in the first-trimester.

Methods: Supratentorial (midbrain curvature, thalamic height), infratentorial (fourth ventricle diameter, brain-stem diameter [BSD], ratio of BSD to BSD-occipital bone diameter [BSOB]), and calvarial (frontomaxillary facial [FMF] angle) parameters were measured in stored midsagittal facial images at 110-136 weeks of 500 normal and 10 open spina-bifida fetuses by 3 blinded examiners.

Results: OSB fetuses displayed a larger midbrain curvature (93.

MR imaging of the fetal musculoskeletal system.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appears to be increasingly used, in addition to standard ultrasonography for the diagnosis of abnormalities in utero. Previous studies have recently drawn attention to the technical refinement of MRI to visualize the fetal bones and muscles. Beyond commonly used T2-weighted MRI, echoplanar, thick-slab T2-weighted and dynamic sequences, and three-dimensional MRI techniques, are about to provide new imaging insights into the normal and the pathological musculoskeletal system of the fetus.

Abnormalities of the penis in utero--hypospadias on fetal MRI.

Objective: To demonstrate the visualization of penile abnormalities on fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: This retrospective study included five fetuses (25+0 to 31+6 gestational weeks) with penile abnormalities, positively depicted on fetal MRI, using prenatal ultrasonography (US) as a standard of reference. On MRI, the penis, as well as the scrotum and testicles, were evaluated.

Female external genitalia on fetal magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: To characterize the normal development of the female external genitalia on fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: This retrospective study included MRI examinations of 191 female fetuses (20-36 gestational weeks) with normal anatomy or minor abnormalities, following suspicion of anomalies on prenatal ultrasound examination. Using a 1.

Penile biometry on prenatal magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: In view of the implementation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an adjunct to ultrasonography in prenatal diagnosis, this study sought to demonstrate normal penile growth on prenatal MRI.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of MRI of 194 male fetuses (18-34 weeks' gestation) with normal anatomy or minor abnormalities. On sagittal T2-weighted MRI sequences, we measured penile length from the glans tip to the scrotal edge (outer length) and from the glans tip to the symphyseal border (total length).

Fetal akinesia and associated abnormalities on prenatal MRI.

Objective: In view of the increasing role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an adjunct to prenatal ultrasonography (US), this study sought to demonstrate the visualization of fetal akinesia and associated abnormalities on MRI.

Methods: This retrospective study included six fetuses with akinesia and associated abnormalities, depicted on fetal MRI after suspicious prenatal US. The whole fetus was assessed for musculoskeletal abnormalities and associated pathological conditions elsewhere.

Clinical trial of multiplanar real-time 4- versus 2-dimensional sonographic guidance for transcervical chorionic villus sampling.

Objectives: Real-time 4-dimensional (4D) sonography can visualize the location of a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) catheter simultaneously in 3 dimensions. We determined the utility of 4D versus 2-dimensional (2D) sonographic guidance for transcervical CVS.

Methods: Chorionic villus sampling was performed on 40 patients at 10 to 13 weeks' gestation (20 in each study group).

Male sexual development in utero: testicular descent on prenatal magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To visualize in utero male fetal testicular descent on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to correlate it with gestational age.

Methods: This retrospective study included 202 MRI examination results of 199 male fetuses (17-39 gestational weeks) with normal anatomy or minor congenital abnormalities, following suspicion of anomalies on prenatal ultrasound examination. Using a 1.

Teaching forceps: the impact of proactive faculty.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact on resident forceps experience by a single proactive teacher.

Study Design: A study was performed to assess the impact on delivery statistics and outcome following the assignment of a single attending to teach forceps to residents. A 2 year period immediately preceding and 2 years following the study was compared using χ(2) and Student t tests.

Tumor disease and associated congenital abnormalities on prenatal MRI.

Objective: Fetal tumors can have a devastating effect on the fetus, and may occur in association with congenital malformations. In view of the increasing role of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an adjunct to prenatal ultrasonography (US), we sought to demonstrate the visualization of fetal tumors, with regard to congenital abnormalities, on MRI.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 18 fetuses with tumors depicted on fetal MRI after suspicious US findings.

Abnormalities of the upper extremities on fetal magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: In view of the increasing use of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an adjunct to prenatal ultrasonography, we sought to demonstrate the visualization of upper extremity abnormalities and associated defects on MRI, with regard to fetal outcomes and compared with ultrasound imaging.

Methods: This retrospective study included 29 fetuses with upper extremity abnormalities visualized with fetal MRI following suspicious ultrasound findings and confirmed by postnatal assessment or autopsy. On a 1.

Teaching 3-dimensional fetal ultrasound: a randomized study.

Objective: Three-dimensional ultrasound has become an integral mode of fetal imaging. However, unclear but foundational concepts such as 'rotational axes' and 'sectional planes' are key to obtaining, manipulating, and understanding 3d volumes. This randomized study utilized 'analogical transfer', as a novel method of teaching three-dimensional ultrasound.

Discordance of first-trimester crown-rump length is a predictor of adverse outcomes in structurally normal euploid dichorionic twins.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between discordant crown-rump length (CRL) measurements in structurally normal euploid dichorionic twins and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included women with dichorionic twins who underwent chorionic villus sampling and delivered in our facility from January 2000 to September 2007. Only pregnancies with viable twin fetuses and normal karyotypes were included.

Methamphetamine use during pregnancy: maternal and neonatal implications.

Objective: To report the demographic characteristics and clinical morbidity of methamphetamine-exposed pregnancies compared with control patients in a tertiary care, urban, academic medical center.

Methods: A single-site chart review from 2000 to 2006 was conducted. International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code 648.

The esophageal 'pouch sign': a benign transient finding.

Objective: Sonographic finding of an esophageal pouch is considered pathognomonic for fetal esophageal atresia (EA). We investigated the clinical significance of this finding.

Methods: Longitudinal sonographic follow-up in pregnancy and neonatal diagnostic work-up was performed in six fetuses with an esophageal neck pouch referred for polyhydramnios and a small or absent stomach.

Rhombencephalosynapsis in a severely polymalformed fetus with non-mosaic tetrasomy 9p, in intracytoplasmic-sperm-injection pregnancy.

Case Report: A fetus with rhombencephalosynapsis and prenatally diagnosed tetrasomy 9p is reported. Chromosomal analysis from amniocyte culture revealed non-mosaic supernumerary chromosome identified as isochromosome 9p (9p24-->q13::q13-->p24). Ultrasound scan revealed intrauterine growth retardation, renal anomalies, cardiac anomalies, ventriculomegaly, and agenesis of cerebellar vermis with fusion of the cerebellar hemispheres.

Sonographic characteristics of the uterine cavity following first-trimester uterine evacuation.

Objective: To characterize the sonographic appearance of the uterine cavity after first-trimester uterine evacuation and to follow the evolution of these findings in an attempt to reduce the number of unnecessary surgical interventions following evacuation.

Methods: We studied retrospectively the sonographic characteristics of the uterine cavity in 599 women, 5-8 days after first-trimester uterine evacuation. The patients were grouped according to the sonographic appearance of the uterine cavity.

Fetal facial profile in Pallister-Killian syndrome.

Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) is a sporadic chromosomal anomaly, caused by a tissue-specific mosaic distribution of an additional isochromosome 12p. About 60 cases of prenatal diagnosis of PKS have been reported. Only 1 case of PKS is described on the basis of prenatal screening, presenting increased nuchal translucency.

Cystic hygroma and mid-trimester maternal serum screening.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maternal serum screening markers and pregnancy outcome in fetuses with cystic hygroma at 15-18 weeks of gestation.

Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed case-notes of 34 consecutive singleton fetuses with cystic hygroma referred at 15-18 weeks of gestation. All cases had maternal blood sampled for triple screening at the time of the ultrasound scan.

Prenatal diagnosis of septal agenesis with normal pituitary function.

Septal agenesis is a rare brain malformation that is characterized by partial or complete absence of the septum pellucidum, either isolated or associated with other brain anomalies. We report a case presenting with septal agenesis and normal optic chiasm and pituitary function in a fetus at 19 weeks of gestation.

Neonatal outcome in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients treated with metformin during pregnancy.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of metformin exposure during pregnancy on neonates of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients.

Method: Neonatal outcomes of 33 women with PCOS treated with metformin during pregnancy were compared to neonatal outcomes of 66 normal healthy women in a retrospective case-control study.

Results: The mean birth weight percentile of neonates exposed to metformin in utero during the first trimester was significantly lower than that of neonates delivered to normal healthy matched controls.