Imaging of the Fetal Zygomatic Bone: A Key Role in Prenatal Diagnosis of First Branchial Arch Syndrome.

Objectives: First arch syndromes are congenital defects caused by failure of neural crest cells to migrate into the first branchial arch. First arch syndrome is classified into 2 main clinical manifestations: Treacher Collins syndrome, characterized by bilateral underdevelopment of the zygomatic bones; and Pierre Robin sequence. The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility of visualization of the fetal zygomatic bone and assess its application in cases referred for features suggestive of first arch syndrome.

The added value of detailed early anomaly scan in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency.

Objective: This study aims to assess the utility of a detailed early fetal anatomy scan prior to karyotyping in the management of pregnancies with an increased nuchal translucency (NT).

Methods: The study included fetuses with NT above the 99th centile. These women were offered the option of an early detailed fetal anatomy scan prior to genetic evaluation.

Prenatal sonographic features of triploidy at 12-16 weeks.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to describe the sonographic appearance of triploidy in early pregnancy.

Methods: We report the sonographic characteristics of a cohort of fetal triploid cases detected at targeted ultrasonographic vaginal examinations between 12 and 16 weeks of gestation from 2008 to 2014. Indications for fetal karyotype following ultrasound were maternal request, advanced maternal age, increased nuchal translucency, and/or fetal abnormalities.

Sonographic Evaluation of the Fetal Thymus Using the Thy-Box Technique Between 13 and 16 Weeks' Gestation.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to assess the feasibility of fetal thymus measurement between 13 and 16 weeks' gestation, to evaluate the potential difference using color Doppler sonography with the thy-box technique, and to construct normal percentile ranges.

Methods: This retrospective study included 287 healthy singleton pregnancies. The fetal thymus was shown in an axial plane of the upper mediastinum.

Umbilical vein insertion into the inferior vena cava: an ominous sign of chromosomal abnormalities?

This series describes the sonographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of fetuses with abnormal insertion of the umbilical vein (UV) into the inferior vena cava (IVC). We conducted a retrospective study that described the sonographic features of 6 patients who underwent a routine anatomic scan during early pregnancy. Six patients had a diagnosis of abnormal insertion of the UV to the IVC; in 3, the diagnosis was made at 12 weeks' gestation.

The "lasso sign": an early sonographic sign of posterior meningocele.

Posterior meningocele is an uncommon form of spina bifida. We present a case of unique posterior meningocele diagnosed at the early second trimester anatomical scan using 2D and 3D ultrasound. The sonographic appearance resembled "lasso".

Sonographic examination of the fetal vermis: tricks for obtaining the narrow midline target with 3-dimensional volume contrast imaging in the C plane.

Prenatal imaging of the fetal cerebellar vermis is challenging even for experienced examiners. We found that by aiming the ultrasound beam through the mastoid fontanel and then rotating the data set in a multiplanar reconstruction and applying volume contrast imaging in the C plane, we were consistently able to obtain images of the vermis in the standard midsagittal plane. Images of the fetal vermis suitable for morphologic evaluation were obtained in 408 of 414 cases (98.

Fetal brain asymmetry: in utero sonographic study of normal fetuses.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the magnitude of normal fetal brain asymmetry.

Study Design: This was a prospective study. Normal fetuses between 19-28 weeks of gestation were studied.

Isolated fetal umbilical vein varix--prenatal sonographic diagnosis and suggested management.

Objective: To present our experience with fetuses with umbilical vein varix (UVV), to investigate possible risk factors and to suggest a management scheme of evaluation.

Study Design: A study of 14 pregnancies complicated with isolated UVV was performed. Data collected included sonographic characteristics of the UVV, pregnancy outcome including induction of labour, mode of delivery, birthweight, and neonatal complications.

Three-dimensional ultrasonography of the fetal vermis at 18 to 26 weeks' gestation: time of appearance of the primary fissure.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the normality of the fetal vermis, ie, the time of appearance of the primary fissure, as well as its measurements between 18 and 26 weeks' gestation, using 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of normal singleton pregnancies was conducted. Examinations were performed with high-resolution transabdominal ultrasonography using the axial plane in 173 fetuses between 18 and 26 weeks' gestation.

Development of the fetal spinal cord: time of ascendance of the normal conus medullaris as detected by sonography.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to perform high-resolution sonographic examinations to determine the normal anatomic relationship of the conus medullaris (CM) of the spinal cord with the vertebral column during different stages of gestation.

Methods: In this prospective study, fetal sonographic evaluations were performed between 13 and 40 weeks' gestation. Transvaginal probes (7.

The fetal mandible: an in utero sonographic evaluation between 11 and 31 weeks' gestation.

Objective: To construct a growth chart of the mandible throughout gestation.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of normal singleton pregnancies was conducted. Measurements of the fetal mandibular transverse and antero-posterior diameters were performed with high-resolution transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasonography in 490 pregnant women with singleton low-risk pregnancies between 11 and 31 weeks' gestation.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of glossoptosis in fetuses with Pierre Robin sequence in early and mid pregnancy.

Objective: This study was undertaken to describe the sonographic features of fetal glossoptosis in the Pierre Robin sequence.

Study Design: Fetal sonography was prospectively performed in 8000 consecutive pregnancies at 14 to 24 weeks' gestation. In addition we retrospectively reevaluated ultrasound recordings of 4 fetuses from other hospitals, in which the diagnosis of Pierre Robin sequence was overlooked at 22 weeks' gestation.

The influence of prothrombotic polymorphisms and obstetrical and medical variables on the length of secondary postpartum hemorrhage.

Objective: To determine if the presence of prothrombotic polymorphisms, such as factor V G1691A (factor V Leiden) or factor II G20210A, affect the length of secondary postpartum bleeding.

Methods: We conducted a prospective and blind study that enrolled primiparous healthy women following singleton pregnancy. Whole blood was taken for determining the presence of factor V G1691A or prothrombin G20210A by PCR and specific restriction enzymes.

The common prothrombotic factors in nulliparous women do not compromise blood flow in the feto-maternal circulation and are not associated with preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: In this study we evaluated the associations between common prothrombotic factors and increased blood flow resistance in the feto-maternal circulation, intrauterine growth restriction, small for gestational age, or preeclampsia.

Study Design: A prospective study was conducted in healthy nulliparous women with spontaneous singleton pregnancy. Blood was tested for the common prothrombotic factors, i.

Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of hemivertebra.

Objective: To describe our experience in prenatal diagnosis of hemivertebra.

Methods: This is a case series of patients referred to our tertiary medical center over a 3-year period. All fetuses were scanned by high-resolution real-time scanners.

The three-vessel and tracheal view of the fetal heart: an in utero sonographic evaluation.

Objectives: To establish a nomogram for fetal cardiac three-vessel view diameter changes during gestation.

Methods: The study is a prospective cross-sectional evaluation of 338 male and female fetuses between 14 and 38 weeks of normal singleton pregnancies. Measurements of fetal pulmonary artery, aorta and superior vena cava diameters, performed on a transverse view of the upper mediastinum were conducted using transvaginal ultrasonography between 14 to 18 weeks and transabdominal after 19 weeks' gestation.

Prenatal diagnosis of cavum velum interpositum cysts: significance and outcome.

Objectives: To describe a fetal cavum velum interpositum cyst (CVIC) and to review its clinical significance.

Methods: Description and follow-up of two cases with prenatal diagnosis of a midline cyst in the fetal brain, at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. The cases were reviewed and followed-up by a multidisciplinary team that included sonographers, pediatric neurologists, pediatric neurosurgeons, radiologists, and clinical geneticists.

Nonobstructive dilatation of the fetal bowel in twin gestations. A possible sonographic marker for fetal compromise.

Objective: To assess the possible association of in-utero bowel dilatation and circulatory changes with fetal compromise.

Methods: A retrospective survey of all ultrasound examinations was performed at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center (n approximately 10,000) between 1995 and 1999. Cases with ultrasonographic evidence of bowel dilatation, but without evidence of obstruction, were recruited.

Fetal lateral ventricular width: what should be its upper limit? A prospective cohort study and reanalysis of the current and previous data.

Objective: The upper limit of the fetal atrial width in normal fetuses is debated. This was a prospective cohort evaluation of the lateral ventricular width with special regard to the upper limit of its size.

Methods: Measurements of fetal atrial ventricular size were obtained by abdominal ultrasonography in 427 male and female fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks' gestation of normal singleton pregnancies.

The resistance index in the fetal middle cerebral artery by gestational age and ventricle size in a normal population.

Objective: To study the association between fetal middle cerebral artery flow and the lateral cerebral ventricular width throughout gestation.

Methods: The study is a prospective cohort evaluation of 430 singleton male and female fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks' normal gestation. Abdominal ultrasonography and Doppler measurements were performed to measure the fetal atrial ventricular size and resistance index (RI) of the middle cerebral artery.

Evaluating the risk of tuberous sclerosis in cases with prenatal diagnosis of cardiac rhabdomyoma.

Objective: To evaluate the prenatal parameters that increase the risk of tuberous sclerosis in prenatal management of fetal cardiac tumors suspected as rhabdomyoma.

Methods: The study was a retrospective survey of 18 documented cases in which cardiac rhabdomyoma was suspected during pregnancy. The following parameters were evaluated as possible risk factors associated with tuberous sclerosis: tumor size, isolated or multiple, and family history of tuberous sclerosis.