Three-dimensional assessment of umbilical vein deviation angle for prediction of liver herniation in left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia

OBJECTIVES

To introduce a new sonographic marker of intrathoracic liver herniation in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

METHODS

In a consecutive series of fetuses with isolated CDH, an ultrasound volume of the fetal abdomen was acquired. On this volume, offline calculation of the angle formed by the midline of the abdomen (joining the center of the vertebral body to the abdominal insertion of the umbilical cord) and a second line joining the center of the vertebral body to the intra-abdominal convexity of the umbilical vein was carried out to give the umbilical vein deviation angle (UVDA). The UVDA was measured in a group of normal fetuses selected as controls. At follow-up, the presence of liver herniation was investigated in all cases of CDH. UVDA values were compared between the CDH group and controls, and between CDH 'liver-up' vs 'liver-down' cases. A receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed to identify a cut-off value of the UVDA with the highest accuracy in predicting liver herniation in the CDH group.

RESULTS

Between 2009 and 2015, 22 cases of left-sided CDH were included in the study group, of which nine cases had liver herniation. Eighty-eight normal fetuses were recruited as controls. The UVDA was significantly higher in the cases vs controls (15.25 ± 7.91° vs 7.68 ± 1.55°; P < 0.0001). Moreover, the UVDA was significantly increased in CDH fetuses with liver-up vs liver-down (21.77 ± 8.79° vs 10.75 ± 2.10°; P < 0.0001). On ROC curve analysis the UVDA showed good prediction of liver herniation (area under the ROC curve, 0.94; P < 0.0001) with the best cut-off of 15.2°, yielding a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 100% (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In fetuses with CDH, umbilical vein bowing may be quantified by measuring the UVDA using three-dimensional ultrasound. This sonographic marker seems to be an accurate predictor of liver herniation in left-sided CDH. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Appearance of fetal posterior fossa at 11-14 weeks in fetuses with Dandy-Walker malformation or chromosomal anomalies

OBJECTIVE

To describe the sonographic appearance of fetal posterior fossa anatomy at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy and to assess the outcome of fetuses with increased intracranial translucency (IT) and/or brainstem-to-occipital bone (BSOB) diameter.

METHODS

Reference ranges for brainstem (BS), IT and cisterna magna (CM) measurements, BSOB diameter and the BS : BSOB ratio were obtained from the first-trimester ultrasound examination of 233 fetuses with normal postnatal outcome (control group). The intraobserver and interobserver variability of measurements were investigated using 73 stored ultrasound images. In addition, a study group of 17 fetuses with increased IT and/or BSOB diameter was selected to assess outcome.

RESULTS

No significant intraobserver or interobserver variability was found for any measurement in the control group. In the study group, IT was increased in all cases and BSOB diameter was above the 95(th) centile of the calculated normal range in all but two (88%) cases. In 13/17 study cases, only two of the three posterior brain spaces were recognized on ultrasound. These 13 fetuses had a larger BSOB diameter than did the four cases that showed all three posterior brain spaces, and had severe associated anomalies including Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) and/or chromosomal anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

Visualization of the fetal posterior fossa anatomy at 11-14 weeks' gestation is feasible. Increased fluid in the posterior brain at 11-14 weeks, particularly in the case of non-visibility of the septation that divides the future fourth ventricle from the CM, is an important risk factor for cystic posterior fossa malformations, in particular DWM, and/or chromosomal aberrations. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Open fourth ventricle prior to 20 weeks' gestation: a benign finding?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of the brainstem-vermis (BV) angle in the diagnosis of fetal posterior fossa abnormalities at 15-18 weeks' gestation.

METHODS

We examined retrospectively three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound volumes acquired at 15-18 gestational weeks in fetuses with normal posterior fossa (controls) and in those with cystic posterior fossa. Whether the fourth ventricle appeared open posteriorly in axial views was noted and the BV angle was measured. A detailed follow-up was obtained in all cases.

RESULTS

Of the 139 controls, 46 cases were excluded because of inadequate quality of the 3D volumes. Of the 93 remaining normal fetuses, 84 (90.3%) had a closed fourth ventricle and a BV angle < 20°, whereas 9/93 (9.7%) had an open fourth ventricle and a BV angle between 20° and 37°. The study group of 11 fetuses included seven with Dandy-Walker malformation and four with Blake's pouch cyst. In abnormal cases as a whole, the BV angle was significantly increased compared with that in controls (P < 0.0001). However, fetuses with Blake's pouch cyst and normal fetuses with an open fourth ventricle had strikingly similar sonograms: the BV angle was between 20° and 37° and the fourth ventricle appeared open only when viewed using a more steeply angulated scanning plane than that of the standard transcerebellar plane; in fetuses with Dandy-Walker malformation the fourth ventricle was widely open posteriorly, even in the standard transcerebellar view, and the BV angle was > 45°, significantly increased compared both with that in normal fetuses (P < 0.0001) and with that in fetuses with Blake's pouch cyst (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

An open fourth ventricle is found in about 10% of normal fetuses at 15-18 weeks' gestation. Measurement of the BV angle is useful in such cases, as a value ≥ 45° is associated with a very high risk of severe posterior fossa malformation.

[Pregnancy in lupus patients: our experience]

AIM

Systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common autoimmune disease associated with pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate management and outcome of pregnancy complicated by SLE.

METHODS

Twenty pregnant women affected by SLE were admitted to Prenatal Diagnosis Centre of University "Sapienza" from January 2007 to July 2009. Pregnancy was monitored from diagnosis to delivery by at least a monthly consultation. At each visit general blood laboratory assessment were registered. An ultrasound examination was performed to evaluate fetal growth. From 26 weeks of gestation an estimation of fetal weight was calculated according to the standard of Lubchenco. At birth newborns weight was registered.

RESULTS

Patient mean age was 32.9 years. There were 18 live births (90%), and 2 spontaneous abortions; 50% of pregnancy ended with a preterm delivery. 20% of the patient had signs of disease activity during pregnancy. Fifteen percent of women presented gestational hypertension. An high rate of small for gestational age was registered and 2 cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Ultrasound evaluation at 28-30 weeks of gestation showed a normal weight (≥ 50th percentile) in 83% fetuses. Only 45% of the newborns presented ≥ 50th percentile. The mean weight of the newborns was 2700 grams.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy outcome could be improved by close obstetrical and ultrasound monitoring in a multidisciplinary setting.