Fetal breasts in normal and Down syndrome fetuses.
To assess the validity of fetal breast size measurement as a sonographic marker in fetuses with Down syndrome.


METHODS
Fetal breasts were studied in 26 fetuses with trisomy 21 and 78 fetuses with normal chromosomes. Breasts were identified and measured in a cross-sectional plane of the fetal chest at the level of the four-chamber view of the heart. Normal fetuses had a mean breast size of 3.8 mm +/- 1.1 mm. Fetuses with Down syndrome had a mean breast size of 1.9 mm +/- 0.7 mm (p < or = 0.0001). Diminished breast size measured by ultrasound in the second trimester may be helpful in identifying fetuses with Down syndrome.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA.
B M
BM
Petrikovsky
E P
EP
Schneider
V R
VR
Klein
L J
LJ
Wyse
M
M
Lesser
D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal