Management of fetal goiters: 6-year retrospective observational study in three prenatal diagnosis and treatment centers of the Pays De Loire Perinatal Network

Fetal Goiter Diagnosed in a Euthyroid Patient: An Unusual Presentation of the Fetal Thyroid Disease

Fetal thyroid disease is rare, and the disease is mostly contextualized in the setting of a treated maternal thyroid disease. The presentation of thyroid disease in the fetus of a euthyroid mother is unusual. This paper presents the case of a 21-week pregnant woman with an incidental finding from a detailed anatomy ultrasound and evaluates available diagnostic and therapeutic management options. There is no consensus with sufficient evidence given the unusual presentation of this type of pathology. In most cases, the evidence is in the etiology of a mother with previous thyroid pathology that modifies the fetal outcome. Hence, it is important to describe cases to accumulate and, at some point, sufficient evidence of different treatments, with the intention of improving the quality of the recommendations. The management of fetal euthyroid goiter is a complex challenge. Most specialists manage the information on a case-by-case basis, with the same general goals as in patients with other thyroid pathologies.

Intra-amniotic levothyroxine infusions in a case of fetal goiter due to novel Thyroglobulin gene variants

Indications and administration of intra-amniotic infusions of L-thyroxine in the context of non-immune fetal hypothyroidism with goiter lack of standardization. Systematic follow-up of clinical features related to thyroid hormonal homeostasis may be useful to evaluate their efficiency and develop standardized management guidelines.

Epigenetic Changes Induced by Maternal Factors during Fetal Life: Implication for Type 1 Diabetes

Organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, are believed to result from T-cell-mediated damage of the target tissue. The immune-mediated tissue injury, in turn, is known to depend on complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Nevertheless, the mechanisms whereby environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases remain elusive and represent a major untapped target to develop novel strategies for disease prevention. Given the impact of the early environment on the developing immune system, epigenetic changes induced by maternal factors during fetal life have been linked to a likelihood of developing an autoimmune disease later in life. In humans, DNA methylation is the epigenetic mechanism most extensively investigated. This review provides an overview of the critical role of DNA methylation changes induced by prenatal maternal conditions contributing to the increased risk of immune-mediated diseases on the offspring, with a particular focus on T1D. A deeper understanding of epigenetic alterations induced by environmental stressors during fetal life may be pivotal for developing targeted prevention strategies of type 1 diabetes by modifying the maternal environment.

Imaging of the fetal oral cavity, airway and neck

Magnetic resonance imaging has proved to be an extraordinarily useful adjunct modality in assessment of the fetal face, oral cavity, head and neck because of its soft-tissue contrast, utility for acquiring more precise planar imaging and the inherent advantage of contrast provided by fluid-filled structures, including the oropharyngeal cavity, nasal passages and vascular structures. In this review, the author presents an organized approach to assessing normal anatomical structures of the fetus. The author presents cystic and solid lesions as well as structural and developmental abnormalities and discusses potential concomitant abnormalities. Prenatal consultation, patient counseling and delivery considerations are included.

Current perspective and scope of fetal therapy: part 1

Fetal therapy term has been described for any therapeutic intervention either invasive or noninvasive for the purpose of correcting or treating any fetal malformation or condition. Fetal therapy is a rapidly evolving specialty and has gained pace in last two decades and now fetal intervention is being tried in many malformations with rate of success varying with the type of different fetal conditions. The advances in imaging techniques have allowed fetal medicine persons to make earlier and accurate diagnosis of numerous fetal anomalies. Still many fetal anomalies are managed postnatally because the fetal outcomes have not changed significantly with the use of fetal therapy and this approach avoids unnecessary maternal risk secondary to inutero intervention. The short-term maternal risk associated with fetal surgery includes preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, uterine wall bleeding, chorioamniotic separation, placental abruption, chorioamnionitis, and anesthesia risk. Whereas, maternal long-term complications include risk of infertility, uterine rupture, and need for cesarean section in future pregnancies. The decision for invasive fetal therapy should be taken after discussion with parents about the various aspects like postnatal fetal outcome without fetal intervention, possible outcome if the fetal intervention is done, available postnatal intervention for the fetal condition, and possible short-term and long-term maternal complications. The center where fetal intervention is done should have facility of multi-disciplinary team to manage both maternal and fetal complications. The major issues in the development of fetal surgery include selection of patient for intervention, crafting effective fetal surgical skills, requirement of regular fetal and uterine monitoring, effective tocolysis, and minimizing fetal and maternal fetal risks. This review will cover the surgical or invasive aspect of fetal therapy with available evidence and will highlight the progress made in the management of fetal malformations in last two decades.

Iatrogenic fetal goiter. Conservative management and spontaneous resolution

Objectives

We aim to report a case of a fetal goiter with postpartum spontaneous resolution. Fetal goiter can be secondary to maternal treatment and range from clinically asymptomatic or cause alterations in the fetus, from impaired swallowing to difficulty in vaginal delivery and even perinatal asphyxia due to the mass effect. The need for intrauterine treatment remains controversial.

Case presentation

We present a case of fetal goiter with postpartum resolution. A 34-year-old multigravida presented to the emergency department with hiperemesis gravidarum at 10 weeks’ gestation. During evaluation for severe vomiting, Graves disease was diagnosed and treated with propylthiouracil. A routine ultrasound scan at 28 weeks gestation revealed a fetal anterior neck mass suggesting a fetal goiter. Cordocentesis showed fetal iatrogenic hypothyroidism. Conservative treatment was decided. Pregnancy concluded uneventful and the mass resolved spontaneously in the newborn.

Conclusions

The fetal thyroid gland is a structure that usually goes unnoticed during the process of prenatal diagnosis. In cases of maternal Graves diseases, fetal thyroid needs monitoring during pregnancy and conservative treatment is an option. Fetal goiter should be searched for secondary to thyroid alterations of the gravida, and in selected cases it can be managed without intrauterine treatment.

Graves' disease complicated by fetal goitrous hypothyroidism treated with intra-amniotic administration of levothyroxine

Fetal goitrous hypothyroidism is a rare entity and is caused mainly by maternal treatment of Graves' disease (GD). We report a case of a 22-year-old woman referred at 12 weeks of gestation due to hyperthyroidism subsequent to recently diagnosed GD. She started treatment with propylthiouracil and, at 21 weeks of gestation, fetal goitre was detected. A cordocentesis confirmed the diagnosis of fetal goitrous hypothyroidism, and intra-amniotic administration of levothyroxine (LT4) was performed and repeated through the pregnancy due to maintenance of fetal goitre. The pregnancy proceeded without further complications and a healthy female infant was born at 37 weeks of gestation, with visible goitre and thyroid function within the normal range at birth. Although there is no consensus on the optimal dose, the number of injections and the interval between them, intra-amniotic LT4 administration is recommended once fetal goitrous hypothyroidism is suspected, in order to prevent long-term complications of fetal hypothyroidism.