EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF FETAL STRUCTURAL ANOMALIES BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Abstract

Ultasonography is the most widely noninvasive method used in the diagnosis of fetal anomalies. With the introduction of transvaginal ultrasonography which allowed visualization of fetal structures accurately and at earlier gestational ages, diagnosis of fetal anomalies was possible in the late first and early second trimester instead of conventional late mid trimester anomaly scan practiced in many centers. The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in anomaly scan by targeted abdominal and vaginal sonography among high risk pregnant mothers. Three hundred and fifty pregnant mothers were included m the study during the period from September 1999 to November 2001. Ultrasound evaluation was carried out three times for every woman. The first scan (early ultrasound) was done at the gestational age 12-15 weeks, transvaginally. The second scan was done at the gestational age of 18-22 weeks, transabdominally. The third scan was done after 24 weeks gestational age. The fetuses born or aborted in our series were carefully examined for congenital anomalies. These findings or the result in the third scan (if the fetus was not available to us) were taken as denominator in assessing the value of earlier sonographic screening. Thirty malformed fetuses were diagnosed and had shown 58 different anomalies. In the present study the most common congenital