Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 5, Issue 5 257-259, Copyright © 1986 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of congenital hemivertebra
B. R. Benacerraf, M. F. Greene and V. A. Barss
The prenatal sonographic diagnosis of spinal abnormalities associated with
neural tube element malformations has been well described; however, the
diagnosis of fetal skeletal anomalies of the vertebral bodies with a
neurologically intact spine has received little attention. Three cases of
congenital hemivertebra should alert the sonographer to search for other
congenital defects and for orthopedic complications of vertebral body
malformations in childhood. Prior knowledge of the presence of an abnormal
vertebral body can alert the pediatrician to watch for early signs of
problems such as scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis, and to plan surgery if
necessary.
