Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 10, Issue 8 433-438, Copyright © 1991 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Sonographic recognition of major malformations and aberrant fetal growth in trisomic fetuses
J. M. Dicke and J. P. Crane
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Structural malformations and growth retardation are commonly observed in
chromosomally abnormal newborns. This study assesses the sensitivity of
ultrasound for detecting aberrant fetal growth patterns and
chromosome-related major malformations. The study population consisted of
74 trisomic fetuses (trisomy 13, 9; trisomy 18, 22; trisomy 21, 43).
Overall, 63% (38 of 60) of trisomic fetuses had at least one major
malformation on postnatal examination. One or more major anomalies were
identified by prenatal sonography in 68% (26 of 38) of these malformed
fetuses and 43% (26 of 60) of the entire trisomic population. Midtrimester
onset growth retardation was evident in 43% of fetuses with trisomy 13 and
59% of fetuses with trisomy 18. These findings suggest that a systematic
fetal anatomic survey can be a powerful screening tool for the prenatal
detection of chromosome abnormalities.
