1.Value of the five-sectional screening method of the central nervous system in the first trimester
Lingling SUN ; Chunya JI ; Jun ZHANG ; Qi PAN ; Zhong YANG ; Chen LING ; Linliang YIN ; Xuedong DENG
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(5):383-390
Objective:To investigate the value of the five-sectional screening method of the central nervous system(CNS)in early detection of fetal CNS abnormalities during the first trimester.Methods:The data of pregnant women who underwent nuchal translucency(NT)screening at the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2018 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. And a five-sectional screening method of CNS was performed in all fetuses at the meantime. The five-sectional screening protocol in the first trimester consists of the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal head,trans-ventricular plane,trans-thalamus plane,axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level,and the sagittal plane of the fetal spine. All fetuses underwent ultrasound screening during the second trimester and the third trimester sequentially after NT screening. All the ultrasound findings were tracked,and all fetuses were followed up until delivery or after induction. Fetuses with CNS abnormalities found or suspected in the first trimester were reviewed by at least one senior physician,and follow-up examinations were routinely performed after 2 weeks to further confirm the diagnosis or find other abnormalities that may be present.Results:A total of 13 679 fetuses were screened,included 11 415 singleton pregnancies and 1 132 twin pregnancies. Among them,there were 289 cases of missed follow-up and unexplained fetal death,included 263 singleton pregnancies and 13 twin pregnancies. A total of 13 390 fetuses were finally included,among which,35 cases developed CNS abnormalities with 34 cases detected by prenatal ultrasound and 1 case of closed spina bifida missed in prenatal diagnosis,and the detection rate of CNS malformation by prenatal ultrasound was 97.14%(34/35). Of the 35 fetuses with CNS abnormalities,24 were detected by the CNS five-sectional screening method in the first trimester,with a sensitivity of 68.57%,a specificity of 100%,a positive predictive value of 100%,and a negative predictive value of 99.92%. Among them,there were 2 cases of anencephaly,3 cases of exencephaly and 6 cases of encephalocele were all detected in the first trimester. In addition,6 cases of holoprosencephaly,3 cases of severe ventriculomegaly,2 cases of open spina bifida,and 2 cases of Dandy-Walker malformation were detected in the first trimester. In this study,1 case of agenesis of corpus callosum(ACC),1 case of arachnoid cyst,1 case of lissencephaly,1 case of schizencephaly,and 1 case of mega cisterna magna were not detected in early pregnancy.Conclusions:The fetal five-sectional screening method of CNS in the first trimester has high specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for the detection of fetal CNS abnormalities,but the sensitivity is moderate. The five-sectional screening method for CNS in early pregnancy may be an effective method for early detection of fetal CNS abnormalities.
2.Diagnostic value of fetal cardiac ultrasound screening views in the first trimester for congenital heart disease
Chengcheng WU ; Chunya JI ; Liqun FENG ; Wei SHAO ; Naimin SUN ; Jun ZHANG ; Zhong YANG ; Chen LING ; Lingling SUN ; Qi PAN ; Xuedong DENG ; Linliang YIN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(9):799-804
Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of fetal cardiac ultrasound view visualization in the first trimester for congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 13 323 singleton fetuses who underwent first-trimester(11-13 +6 weeks)ultrasound screening at the Ultrasound Medicine Center,the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to June 2024. Cardiac views including the four-chamber view(4CV),left ventricular outflow tract view(LVOT),and Results:The study group showed significantly higher rates of "poorly visualized" 4CV,LVOT,and 3VT than the control group(2.70% vs. 0.14%, P=0.005;36.49% vs. 4.76%, P<0.001;36.49% vs.2.46%, P<0.001). The efficacies of combination 1(any view abnormal)and combination 2(any view "poorly visualized" or "abnormal")were comparable,with AUCs of 0.86 and 0.85( P=0.424). The AUCs of combination 3(3VT "poorly visualized" or any view "abnormal")and combination 4(4CV "poorly visualized" or any view "abnormal")were 0.88 and 0.86( P=0.424),all significantly higher than combination 5(LVOT "poorly visualized" or any view "abnormal",AUC=0.84,all P<0.05). Conclusions:"Poorly visualized" cardiac views in the first trimester demonstrate good diagnostic efficacy for CHD,particularly when 3VT or 4CV are affected,warranting heightened clinical vigilance for fetal cardiac anomalies.
3.Value of the five-sectional screening method of the central nervous system in the first trimester
Lingling SUN ; Chunya JI ; Jun ZHANG ; Qi PAN ; Zhong YANG ; Chen LING ; Linliang YIN ; Xuedong DENG
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(5):383-390
Objective:To investigate the value of the five-sectional screening method of the central nervous system(CNS)in early detection of fetal CNS abnormalities during the first trimester.Methods:The data of pregnant women who underwent nuchal translucency(NT)screening at the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2018 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. And a five-sectional screening method of CNS was performed in all fetuses at the meantime. The five-sectional screening protocol in the first trimester consists of the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal head,trans-ventricular plane,trans-thalamus plane,axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level,and the sagittal plane of the fetal spine. All fetuses underwent ultrasound screening during the second trimester and the third trimester sequentially after NT screening. All the ultrasound findings were tracked,and all fetuses were followed up until delivery or after induction. Fetuses with CNS abnormalities found or suspected in the first trimester were reviewed by at least one senior physician,and follow-up examinations were routinely performed after 2 weeks to further confirm the diagnosis or find other abnormalities that may be present.Results:A total of 13 679 fetuses were screened,included 11 415 singleton pregnancies and 1 132 twin pregnancies. Among them,there were 289 cases of missed follow-up and unexplained fetal death,included 263 singleton pregnancies and 13 twin pregnancies. A total of 13 390 fetuses were finally included,among which,35 cases developed CNS abnormalities with 34 cases detected by prenatal ultrasound and 1 case of closed spina bifida missed in prenatal diagnosis,and the detection rate of CNS malformation by prenatal ultrasound was 97.14%(34/35). Of the 35 fetuses with CNS abnormalities,24 were detected by the CNS five-sectional screening method in the first trimester,with a sensitivity of 68.57%,a specificity of 100%,a positive predictive value of 100%,and a negative predictive value of 99.92%. Among them,there were 2 cases of anencephaly,3 cases of exencephaly and 6 cases of encephalocele were all detected in the first trimester. In addition,6 cases of holoprosencephaly,3 cases of severe ventriculomegaly,2 cases of open spina bifida,and 2 cases of Dandy-Walker malformation were detected in the first trimester. In this study,1 case of agenesis of corpus callosum(ACC),1 case of arachnoid cyst,1 case of lissencephaly,1 case of schizencephaly,and 1 case of mega cisterna magna were not detected in early pregnancy.Conclusions:The fetal five-sectional screening method of CNS in the first trimester has high specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for the detection of fetal CNS abnormalities,but the sensitivity is moderate. The five-sectional screening method for CNS in early pregnancy may be an effective method for early detection of fetal CNS abnormalities.
4.Diagnostic value of fetal cardiac ultrasound screening views in the first trimester for congenital heart disease
Chengcheng WU ; Chunya JI ; Liqun FENG ; Wei SHAO ; Naimin SUN ; Jun ZHANG ; Zhong YANG ; Chen LING ; Lingling SUN ; Qi PAN ; Xuedong DENG ; Linliang YIN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(9):799-804
Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of fetal cardiac ultrasound view visualization in the first trimester for congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 13 323 singleton fetuses who underwent first-trimester(11-13 +6 weeks)ultrasound screening at the Ultrasound Medicine Center,the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to June 2024. Cardiac views including the four-chamber view(4CV),left ventricular outflow tract view(LVOT),and Results:The study group showed significantly higher rates of "poorly visualized" 4CV,LVOT,and 3VT than the control group(2.70% vs. 0.14%, P=0.005;36.49% vs. 4.76%, P<0.001;36.49% vs.2.46%, P<0.001). The efficacies of combination 1(any view abnormal)and combination 2(any view "poorly visualized" or "abnormal")were comparable,with AUCs of 0.86 and 0.85( P=0.424). The AUCs of combination 3(3VT "poorly visualized" or any view "abnormal")and combination 4(4CV "poorly visualized" or any view "abnormal")were 0.88 and 0.86( P=0.424),all significantly higher than combination 5(LVOT "poorly visualized" or any view "abnormal",AUC=0.84,all P<0.05). Conclusions:"Poorly visualized" cardiac views in the first trimester demonstrate good diagnostic efficacy for CHD,particularly when 3VT or 4CV are affected,warranting heightened clinical vigilance for fetal cardiac anomalies.
5.Value of combination of first-trimester and mid-trimester ultrasound in screening fetal pentalogy of Cantrell
Naimin SUN ; Chenhan ZHENG ; Chunya JI ; Jun ZHANG ; Qi PAN ; Lingling SUN ; Zhong YANG ; Chen LING ; Linliang YIN ; Xuedong DENG
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2024;33(2):151-157
Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of first-trimester and mid-trimester ultrasound in screening fetal pentalogy of Cantrell, and to analyze missed and misdiagnosed cases.Methods:The fetal ultrasound image characteristics of pentalogy of Cantrell diagnosed in the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from March 2018 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The necessary sections and key features of ultrasound images for diagnosing the disease in first-trimester and mid-trimester were summarized. The diagnostic value of ultrasound screenings in first-trimester and mid-trimester was analyzed, and the progression of the disease during pregnancy was understood, the missed diagnosis rate and misdiagnosis rate were calculated, and the reasons for missing diagnosis were analyzed. All fetuses were followed up to birth or induction of labor.Pentalogy of Cantrell was divided into types Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ according to Toyama′s research.Results:Among the 120 190 fetuses, 13 cases of pentalogy of Cantrell were diagnosed by ultrasound in first-trimester and mid-trimester. Ultrasound predominantly showed the fetal heart being malpositioned outside the chest and the fetal abdominal contents bulging outside the abdominal cavity, and the sternumal echo was partially or completely missed in some cases. All 13 cases were confirmed by follow-up, including 1 case of type Ⅱ, and 12 cases of type Ⅲ. In addition, 1 missed case of type Ⅱ pentalogy of Cantrell was followed up after birth. The correct diagnostic rates of fetal pentalogy of Cantrell using standard ultrasound sections during the first-trimester and mid-trimester were 99.9% and 100%, the sensitivity were 88.9% and 100%, the specificity were both 100%, the positive predictive values were both 100%, and the negative predictive values were 99.9% and 100%, respectively.Conclusions:First-trimester and mid-trimester ultrasound screenings have high diagnostic accuracy for pentalogy of Cantrell, and early detection and early diagnosis are of great clinical significance for the guidance of pregnancy outcomes.
6.Clinical characteristics of 30 patients with intracranial hypotension syndrome
Siqi WENG ; Yanan CAI ; Sichen HE ; Guohui HUANG ; Zihui DENG ; Bin CHEN ; Xiaojun LIU ; Suyue PAN ; Yabin JI
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2024;50(5):263-267
Objective To analyze and summarize the clinical presentation of spontaneous and secondary intracranial hypotension syndrome(IHS).Methods Patients diagnosed with spontaneous or secondary IHS from September 2022 to May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical data,imaging features,treatment methods and prognosis were collected.The correlation between intracranial pressure values and clinical characteristics of the patients was statistically analyzed.Results A total of 30 patients were enrolled,and the proportion of spontaneous and secondary IHS was 63%(19 cases)and 37%(11 cases),respectively.In terms of clinical features,orthostatic headache was the most common type(29 cases,96.7%)and most commonly involved occipital region(12 cases,40.0%),followed by frontoparietal region(9 cases,30.0%).Among the brain imaging features,dural enhancement was the most common(17 cases,56.7%).According to CT angiography of spinal cord findings,cerebrospinal fluid leakage is one of the most common location of cervical spine segments(10 cases),and on the thoracic segments(9 cases),followed by the thoracic segments(4 cases)and lumbar segments(4 cases).After conservative treatment and surgical treatment,the total effective rate was 90%.Conclusion Orthostatic headache and cranial MRI"dural enhancement"have strong indication on the definitive diagnosis of IHS.CT myelography is helpful to precisely localize the site of cerebrospinal fluid leakage.Targeted epidural blood patch therapy is an effective method to cure IHS when conservative treatment is ineffective.
7.The prognostic significance of primary tumor site in vulvar cancer:a population-based cohort study
Penglin LIU ; Xuechao JI ; Zhuang LI ; Wenzhi KONG ; Zangyu PAN ; Mengqi DENG ; Jinwei MIAO
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2024;35(6):e101-
Objective:
To investigate the association of primary tumor site with prognosis in vulvar cancer, stratified by vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-SCC histological types.
Methods:
This population-based retrospective study enrolled patients with vulvar cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between January 2000 and December 2018. The primary outcome was cancer-specific survival (CSS). The prognostic difference between labium majus, labium minus and clitoris groups was investigated using Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses.
Results:
A total of 3,465 eligible patients with vulvar cancer were included with a mean age of 54.5 years. Among the 1,076 (31.1%) patients with non-SCC, the multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that labium minus-sited disease (hazard ratio [HR]=1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.27–2.71; p=0.001) and clitoris-sited disease (HR=2.37; 95% CI=1.47–3.85;p<0.001) were significantly associated with worse CSS, compared with labium majus-sited disease. However, among the 2,389 (68.9%) patients with SCC, no significant association of primary tumor site with CSS was found (p>0.05). Kaplan–Meier analyses also showed that the primary tumor site had a significant prognostic effect in vulvar non-SCC (p<0.001) but not in vulvar SCC (p=0.330).
Conclusion
Among vulvar non-SCC, patients with labium minus-sited disease had a significantly worse prognosis than those with labium majus-sited disease, and a significantly better prognosis than those with clitoris-sited disease. Gynecologic oncologists should consider the prognostic effect of primary tumor site in vulvar non-SCC, and make optimal, personalized treatment and surveillance strategies based on different primary tumor sites.
8.The prognostic significance of primary tumor site in vulvar cancer:a population-based cohort study
Penglin LIU ; Xuechao JI ; Zhuang LI ; Wenzhi KONG ; Zangyu PAN ; Mengqi DENG ; Jinwei MIAO
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2024;35(6):e101-
Objective:
To investigate the association of primary tumor site with prognosis in vulvar cancer, stratified by vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-SCC histological types.
Methods:
This population-based retrospective study enrolled patients with vulvar cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between January 2000 and December 2018. The primary outcome was cancer-specific survival (CSS). The prognostic difference between labium majus, labium minus and clitoris groups was investigated using Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses.
Results:
A total of 3,465 eligible patients with vulvar cancer were included with a mean age of 54.5 years. Among the 1,076 (31.1%) patients with non-SCC, the multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that labium minus-sited disease (hazard ratio [HR]=1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.27–2.71; p=0.001) and clitoris-sited disease (HR=2.37; 95% CI=1.47–3.85;p<0.001) were significantly associated with worse CSS, compared with labium majus-sited disease. However, among the 2,389 (68.9%) patients with SCC, no significant association of primary tumor site with CSS was found (p>0.05). Kaplan–Meier analyses also showed that the primary tumor site had a significant prognostic effect in vulvar non-SCC (p<0.001) but not in vulvar SCC (p=0.330).
Conclusion
Among vulvar non-SCC, patients with labium minus-sited disease had a significantly worse prognosis than those with labium majus-sited disease, and a significantly better prognosis than those with clitoris-sited disease. Gynecologic oncologists should consider the prognostic effect of primary tumor site in vulvar non-SCC, and make optimal, personalized treatment and surveillance strategies based on different primary tumor sites.
9.The prognostic significance of primary tumor site in vulvar cancer:a population-based cohort study
Penglin LIU ; Xuechao JI ; Zhuang LI ; Wenzhi KONG ; Zangyu PAN ; Mengqi DENG ; Jinwei MIAO
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2024;35(6):e101-
Objective:
To investigate the association of primary tumor site with prognosis in vulvar cancer, stratified by vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-SCC histological types.
Methods:
This population-based retrospective study enrolled patients with vulvar cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between January 2000 and December 2018. The primary outcome was cancer-specific survival (CSS). The prognostic difference between labium majus, labium minus and clitoris groups was investigated using Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses.
Results:
A total of 3,465 eligible patients with vulvar cancer were included with a mean age of 54.5 years. Among the 1,076 (31.1%) patients with non-SCC, the multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that labium minus-sited disease (hazard ratio [HR]=1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.27–2.71; p=0.001) and clitoris-sited disease (HR=2.37; 95% CI=1.47–3.85;p<0.001) were significantly associated with worse CSS, compared with labium majus-sited disease. However, among the 2,389 (68.9%) patients with SCC, no significant association of primary tumor site with CSS was found (p>0.05). Kaplan–Meier analyses also showed that the primary tumor site had a significant prognostic effect in vulvar non-SCC (p<0.001) but not in vulvar SCC (p=0.330).
Conclusion
Among vulvar non-SCC, patients with labium minus-sited disease had a significantly worse prognosis than those with labium majus-sited disease, and a significantly better prognosis than those with clitoris-sited disease. Gynecologic oncologists should consider the prognostic effect of primary tumor site in vulvar non-SCC, and make optimal, personalized treatment and surveillance strategies based on different primary tumor sites.
10.Ultrasonographic measurements of intracranial markers related to central nervous system of normal fetuses in early pregnancy in Suzhou
Lingling SUN ; Jiaojiao CAO ; Jun ZHANG ; Chunya JI ; Qi PAN ; Zhong YANG ; Chen LING ; Xuedong DENG ; Linliang YIN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2024;33(11):975-982
Objective:To establish reference ranges of central nervous system-related fetal intracranial markers during the first trimester in a local population of Suzhou.Methods:Ultrasound images of fetuses with normal birth outcomes in singleton pregnancies who underwent nuchal translucency(NT) screening during the first trimester (11-13 + 6 gestational weeks) from January 2021 to July 2022 at the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively selected. The images including 3 planes: the midsagittal plane of the fetal head, also known as the plane for NT measurement, the trans-ventricular plane of the fetal head, and the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level. The brainstem (BS) thickness, brainstem to occipital bone distance (BSOB), the ratio of BS to BSOB (BS/BSOB), intracranial translucency (IT) thickness, cisterna magna (CM) width, and the midbrain (MB) to falx (F) ratio MB/F were measured in the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal head. Choroid plexus length (CPL) to occipital frontal diameter (OFD) ratio CPL/OFD, and choroid plexus area (CPA) to head area (HA) ratio CPA/HA were measured in the trans-ventricular plane of the fetal head. Anteroposterior diameter of the fourth ventricle (4V) and CM were measured in the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level.Statistical analysis was performed to obtain the corresponding normal reference range.Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analyze intra-observer and inter-observer consistency. Pearson correlation analysis and linear correlation analysis were used to study the correlations between crown-lump length (CRL) and intracranial markers, and the regression equation was derived. Results:A total of 2 331 fetuses were enrolled, providing 1 023 images of the midsagittal plane, 817 images of the trans-ventricular plane, and 567 images of the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level. The intra-observer and inter-observer ICCs of intracranial markers BS, BSOB, BS/BSOB, IT thickness, CM width, MB/F in the mid-sagittal plane, the intracranial markers CPL/OFD, CPA/HA on the trans-ventricular plane, and the intracranial markers 4V and CM width in the axial plane at the posterior fossa level were all >0.75. Fetal intracranial markers were linearly correlated with CRL. The midsagittal plane: BS, BSOB, BS/BSOB, IT thickness, CM width, MB/F were linearly correlated with CRL ( r=0.508, 0.626, -0.234, 0.105, 0.508, -0.493; all P<0.05); the trans-ventricular plane: CPL/OFD, CPA/HA were linearly correlated with CRL( r=-0.324, -0.268; all P<0.001); the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level: 4V, CM width were linearly correlated with CRL ( r=0.246, 0.467; all P<0.001). Conclusions:Quantitative analysis of fetal intracranial markers in the first trimester is feasible. This study constructed a normal reference range of multiple intracranial markers related to central nervous system in the first trimester with a local population of Suzhou. And the construction of this normal range can provide an objective basis for the detection of fetal central nervous system malformations in the first trimester.

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