title: Distention of the fetal duodenum: abnormal finding?
abstract: We investigated whether a fluid-filled duodenum is observed in normal fetuses. In part 1 of the study a view in the region of the duodenum was obtained during routine obstetric ultrasonography from 123 low-risk patients. All examinations demonstrated a collapsed duodenum. No gastrointestinal abnormalities were found in these infants. In part 2 of the study, 1163 fetuses (both high-risk and low-risk) were evaluated with real-time scanning, and duodenal fluid without a "double bubble" was seen in one fetus who had a duodenal web. We conclude that a nondistended fetal duodenum is the norm. If fetal duodenal dilation is visualized, this may allow for earlier detection of duodenal obstructions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadrin
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000502:physiology; D004380:Duodenal Obstruction / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal