ultrasound diagnosis of fatal anomalies

ASCITES
Title: TEF/VATER Support Network (Connection)
Description: Offers support and encouragement
for parents of children with tracheoesophageal
fistula, esophageal atresia, and
VATER. Aims to bring current information to
parents and the medical community. Newsletter,
information and referrals, phone support.
Scope: International
Number of groups: Six groups
Founded: 1992
Address: The VATER Connection, 1722 Yucca
Lane, Emporia, KS 66 801, United States
Telephone: 316–342–6954
Web: http://www.vaterconnection.org
References
Bean WJ, Calonje MA, Aprill CN, Geshner J. Anal atresia:
a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis. JCU J Clin Ultrasound
1978; 6: 111–2.
Bronshtein M, Zimmer EZ. Early sonographic detection
of fetal intestinal obstruction and possible diagnostic
pitfalls. Prenat Diagn 1996. 16: 203–6.
Harris RD, Nyberg DA, Mack LA, Weinberger E. Anorectal
atresia: prenatal sonographic diagnosis. AJR AmJ
Roentgenol 1987; 149: 395–400.
LamYH, Shek T, Tang MH. Sonographic features of anal
atresia at 12 weeks. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol
2002; 19: 523–4.
Lomas FE, Dahlstrom JE, Ford JH. VACTERL with hydrocephalus:
family with X-linked VACTERL-H. Am J
Med Genet 1998; 76: 74–8.
Van Rijn M, Christaens GC, Hagenaars AM, Visser GH.
Maternal serumalpha-fetoprotein in fetal anal atresia
and other gastro-intestinal obstructions. Prenat
Diagn 1998; 18: 914–21.
Stoll C, Alembik Y, Roth MP, Dott B. Risk factors in congenital
anal atresias. Ann Genet 1997; 40: 197–204.
Tongsong T, Wanapirak C, Piyamongkol W Sudasana I.
Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of VATER association.
J Clin Ultrasound 1999, 27: 378–84.
Ascites
Definition: Ascites is defined as a collection of
fluid within the peritoneal cavity.
Clinical history/causes: Fetal hydrops, fetal cardiac
insufficiency, infections, mediastinal obstruction
(pulmonary disease), gastrointestinal
obstruction, meconium peritonitis; rarely, perforation
in urinary tract obstruction, metabolic
and hematological diseases of the fetus, hepatobiliary
dysfunction, intra-abdominal tumors.
Ultrasound findings: The abdominal scan shows
fluid accumulation as an echo-free area in the
abdominal cavity. This is usually a clear diagnosis.
The greater omentum may often falsely be
confused with a cystic lesion in the abdomen. If
only a narrow rimof ascites is found, then it is
difficult to differentiate fromcertain artefacts.
Clinical management: Further sonographic
screening, including fetal echocardiography. It is
Fig. 6.1 Ascites. Severe isolated fetal ascites at
25 + 6 weeks. The liver, urinary bladder and bowel
loops with echoes due to meconium peritonitis are
seen floating within it.
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