First-trimester two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound demonstration of craniofacial defects, abdominal wall defects and upper limb deficiency associated with limb-body wall complex

Fetal Hands: A Comprehensive Review of Prenatal Assessment and Diagnosis Over the Past 40 Years

Fetal skeletal dysplasias involving limbs and hands are rare congenital malformations. Prenatal two-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis of fetal limb defects has a sensitivity of about 30%; however, an increased detection rate may be obtained using three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound in the rendering mode. 3-D ultrasound may be used as a complementary method providing additional information. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with the emergence of ultrafast imaging techniques and new sequences, allows for better diagnosis of several fetal skeletal dysplasias such as limb reduction defects and neuromuscular disorders. 3-D volumetric images from ultrasound or MRI scan data allow 3-D ultrasound reconstructions of virtual/physical models, and virtual reality can help researchers to improve our understanding of both normal and abnormal fetal limb/hand anatomy. In this article, we review the embryological development of fetal hands and their main anomalies including prenatal diagnostic methods, genetic counseling, the role of orthopedic and plastic surgery reconstruction, and new perspectives in fetal surgery.

Anatomy-based diagnostic criteria for complex body wall anomalies (CBWA)

BACKGROUND

Precise diagnosis and classification of CBWA cases can be challenging. BSA are considered when there is a body wall anomaly, skeletal abnormalities, and the umbilical cord is anomalous, absent or rudimentary, and LBWC when there is a body wall and structural limb anomalies with or without craniofacial abnormalities.

METHODS

PubMed was searched for body stalk anomalies, limb body wall complex, body stalk anomalies and amniotic band syndrome, and limb body wall complex and amniotic band syndrome. Sixty nine articles were selected and reviewed. This article systematically classifies the variants of CBWA in 218 cases, the study is based on the embryological and anatomical criteria established by Martín-Alguacil and Avedillo to study BSA in the pig.

RESULTS

Eight different BSA presentation were defined. One hundred and eighty nine cases were classified as BSA, from which five were Type I, nine Type II, 20 Type III, 57 Type IV, 11Type V, 24 Type VI, 11 Type VII, and 52 Type VIII. Twenty six cases presented cranial phenotype, 114 abdominal phenotype, 42 cranio/abdominal overlapping phenotype, and five without defined phenotype. In addition, 52 BSA cases presented some kind of spinal dysraphism (SPDYS) and were classified as BSA/SPDYS, most of these cases did not show structural limb anomalies, except for three cases and were classified as LBWC/SPDYS.

CONCLUSION

This morphology-based classification represents a useful tool for clinical diagnosis, it helps to quantify and to evaluate CBWA in a precise, objective manner.