M. Kos, T. Hafner, B. Funduk-Kurjak, T. Bozek, A. Kurjak
Limb deformities and three-dimensional ultrasound
Aim: To assess the ability of three-dimensional (3D)
ultrasonography for improvement of antenatal detection
of limb deformities.
Methods: 347 patients were selected from a routine
outpatient clinic or sent for supervision from other units
because of suspected anomalies of fetal extremities. 3D
ultrasound devices used in the study were Combison
530D and Voluson 530D MT (Kretztechnik, Zipf, Austria)
with a 3–5 MHz annular array transducer for three-dimensional
volume scanning.
Results: In 41 of 347 patients the initial diagnosis was
suspected by two-dimensional sonography (gestational
age 18–32 weeks). In 28 of 41 suspected cases the diagnosis
of abnormalities was determined after examination
by 3D sonography: 17/28 clubfoot, 3/28 hand-polydactily,
2/28 upper limb contractures, 1/28 lower limb
contractures, 4/28 micromelia within the syndrome of
skeletal dysplasia. In 13 of 41 suspected cases, normal
anatomy was confirmed using 3D sonography.
Conclusion: Three-dimensional sonography is the
“method of choice” for the detection of an isolated
defect of a single limb, developmental or positional
deformations and minor defects of hands and feet. Surface-mode reconstruction of the complete limb and
transparent-view reconstruction of the entire skeletal
structure are effective technical advantages enabling a
completely new visual perception of the unborn baby.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 30, 02/2002
Pages: 40 - 47
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