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Introduction The diagnosis and detection of some forms of bile duct disease have become possible with routine prenatal ultrasound. However, it remains difficult to offer a specific diagnosis or even prognosis in most cases. The most common finding is probably…
Introduction Different organ systems can give rise to abdominal cysts that can be detected on prenatal ultrasound (US) ( Table 24.1 ). Depending on the location, gestational age, gender, and US appearance of the cyst, a limited differential diagnosis or…
Introduction Fetal hepatic calcifications are divided into three categories: peritoneal, parenchymal, and vascular. This chapter addresses parenchymal hepatic calcifications and, to a lesser degree, vascular calcifications, which may be included in the differential diagnosis of parenchymal calcifications. Disorder Definition Fetal…
Introduction Fetal echogenic bowel (FEB) is typically seen during second trimester prenatal ultrasound. FEB occurs when the fetal bowel appears with the same or greater echogenicity than do surrounding bony structures. When seen in the second trimester, FEB has been…
Introduction Omphalocele is classified as a ventral wall defect in which there is midline herniation of abdominal viscera into the base of the umbilical cord. Before the 1950s, gastroschisis was considered a variant of omphalocele. It is now known that…
Introduction Gastroschisis, a full thickness paraumbilical defect in the abdominal wall that results in herniation of the fetal midgut, has been considered an entity embryologically distinct from omphalocele since the mid-1950s. The widespread availability of prenatal ultrasound (US) and of…
Introduction Cloaca is derived from the Latin word for sewer or drain. Anatomically, it is used to describe a confluence of the urinary, genital, and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. While this is the norm in birds, reptiles, and amphibians, most mammals…
Introduction While not of primary focus for the medically minded sonographer or sonologist, sex determination is often the most important question for parents during a fetal ultrasound (US) examination. Sex determination, however, can be medically important in the diagnosis of…
Introduction The fetal adrenal glands can be reliably imaged on prenatal ultrasound. The adrenal glands are located in a retroperitoneal, paraspinous location, cephalad to the upper renal poles. The gland is composed of a hypoechogenic cortex and a thin echogenic…
Introduction Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a chronic, progressive condition that affects the kidneys and liver, causing cystic dilatation of the renal collecting ducts and congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF), or Caroli disease. ARPKD is also called infantile polycystic…