Prenatal Sonographic Diagnosis of Acardiac Twins.
- Author:
Jeong Ah KIM
1
;
Mi Jin SONG
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Cheil General Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. chrismd@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pregnancy, US;
Fetus, cardiovascular system;
Ultrasonography
- MeSH:
Abdominal Wall;
Autopsy;
Cleft Lip;
Diagnosis*;
Fetal Death;
Fetus;
Follow-Up Studies;
Foot;
Gestational Age;
Hernia, Diaphragmatic;
Humans;
Palate;
Polydactyly;
Retrospective Studies;
Scoliosis;
Single Umbilical Artery;
Tissue Donors;
Ultrasonography*;
Ultrasonography, Prenatal;
Umbilical Cord
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound
2006;25(3):133-138
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was performed to present the prenatal sonographic findings and the associated abnormalities of acardiac twins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven cases of acardiac twins were reviewed retrospectively. Prenatal ultrasonography was performed in all patients at a gestational age between 12 and 27 weeks (mean 17.6 weeks). Autopsy was performed in four cases. The sonographic and autopsy findings were reviewed to report the associated abnormalities of the acardiac and donor fetuses. RESULTS: The diagnosis of acardiac twins was made on the basis of ultrasonography (n=6) or autopsy (n=1). The associated abnormalities of the acardiac fetuses were single umbilical artery (SUA) (n=5), abdominal wall defect (n=4), club feet (n=4), scoliosis (n=1), cleft lip and palate (n=1), digital anomaly (n=1), and umbilical cord cyst (n=1). In four of the donor fetuses, sonographic abnormalities were found. Autopsy was performed in three of the four cases to reveal hydropic change (n=2), diaphragmatic hernia (n=1) and multiple structural abnormalities of interventricular septal defect, polydactyly, club feet and SUA (n=1). Intrauterine fetal death occurred in five donors and follow-up was lost in the remaining two. CONCLUSION: Meticulous sonography enables the diagnosis of acardiac twins at an early gestational age and can reveal the associated abnormalities of the donor fetus as well as the acardiac fetus.
