ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijcemr.2023.07.012
The Clinical Value of Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Hemivertebral Body
Qiushan Qing, Xin Wei, Hong Zheng, Peirui Chen
Department of Ultrasonography, People's Hospital of Deyangcity, Deyang, Sichuan, China.
*Corresponding author: Qiushan Qing
Published: August 11,2023
Abstract
Objective: To explore the value of standardized prenatal ultrasound monitoring and examination in the diagnosis of fetal hemivertebral body deformities. Methods: A total of 20 pregnant women with suspected fetal hemivertebral body deformities from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected, and all study subjects underwent standardized prenatal ultrasound examination. Further suspected vertebral abnormality fetal MRI examination was performed during pregnancy, and postpartum MR, CT or X-ray examinations were performed on full-term newborns and induced fetuses. The prenatal MRI and ultrasound examinations were compared, and the postnatal imaging findings were also compared. Results: All 20 fetuses were diagnosed with hemivertebral body deformities, with 7 cases being single and involving the thoracic vertebrae (3 cases), cervical vertebra (1 case), sacral vertebra (1 case), and lumbar vertebrae (2 cases). One case each had cleft lip, left ectopic kidney, and hydrocephalus. The remaining 4 cases had no other system abnormalities. Thirteen cases had multiple deformities, with 3 cases involving cervical vertebrae, 4 cases involving sacral vertebrae, 1 case involving lumbar vertebrae, 5 cases involving thoracic vertebrae, and 10 cases involving nervous system deformities, including 3 cases of anencephaly, 3 cases of meningocele, 1 case of hydrocephalus, and 3 cases of spinal bifida. Seven cases had urinary system abnormalities, including 1 case of duplicated kidneys, 3 cases of renal hypoplasia, 1 case of renal agenesis, and 2 cases of ectopic kidneys. Three cases had other system abnormalities, and some fetuses had two or more system abnormalities. The accuracy of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis was 90.0%, and the accuracy of prenatal MRI diagnosis was 95.0%, with no significant difference between the two (P > 0.05). The ultrasound imaging characteristics of hemivertebral body deformities in the 20 fetuses were shown as strong echoes on both sides of the spine, which could not be matched one by one, triangular or elliptical bony strong echoes slightly smaller than normal vertebrae embedded in the normal vertebrae, and could involve multiple or a single vertebra. This was commonly seen in the thoracic vertebrae and could be accompanied by rib defects. Conclusion: The accuracy of standardized prenatal ultrasound monitoring in the diagnosis of fetal hemivertebral body deformities is similar to that of MRI, providing valuable reference for genetic counseling and eugenics, and has important clinical significance.
Keywords
Fetal hemivertebral body, ultrasound monitoring, standardized ultrasound examination
References
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How to cite this paper
The Clinical Value of Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Hemivertebral Body
How to cite this paper: Qiushan Qing, Xin Wei, Hong Zheng, Peirui Chen. (2023) The Clinical Value of Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fetal Hemivertebral Body. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Research, 7(3), 362-365.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijcemr.2023.07.012