Early sonographic diagnosis of body stalk anomaly.
Ultrasonographic features of a fetus at 18 weeks of gestation suggesting a body stalk anomaly are presented. These included a large abdominal anterior wall defect in apparent continuity with the placenta, severe kyphoscoliosis of the lower spine, the absence of one kidney, and a very short umbilical cord with only one umbilical artery. The amniotic fluid was reduced and the fetus was almost immobile at short-interval ultrasound examinations. The pregnancy was terminated and autopsy of the fetus showed abnormalities compatible with maldevelopment of both cephalic and caudal embryonic folds.
Jauniaux
E
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King's College Hospital, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, U.K.
Vyas
S
S
Finlayson
C
C
Moscoso
G
G
Driver
M
M
Campbell
S
S
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000002:abnormalities*; D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000002:abnormalities*