title: Short bi-iliac distance in prenatal Ullrich-Turner syndrome.
abstract: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the bi-iliac distance and the caudo-cranial position of the iliac bones in Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) fetuses compared to recently published standards for normal fetuses. Whole-body radiographs in antero-posterior projections of 24 UTS fetuses (crown-rump lengths, 106-220 mm) were included in the study. From each radiograph, two horizontal (outer and inner bi-iliac distances) and two vertical (caudo-cranial) positions compared to the vertebral column were measured to estimate the position of the iliac bones. The present investigation revealed that both the outer and inner bi-iliac distances were significantly shorter in UTS fetuses than in normal fetuses. We also found that for the inner bi-iliac distance, the growth rate in UTS fetuses was significantly lower than in normal fetuses. This finding suggests not only a lesser growth but also a different growth pattern compared to normal fetuses. Regarding the caudo-cranial position of the iliac bones compared to the lower vertebral column, there was no significant difference for the lower caudo-cranial position, but the upper caudo-cranial position was significantly lower in UTS fetuses than in normal fetuses. The bi-iliac distance and the iliac bone position have not previously been described in Ullrich-Turner syndrome fetuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ulla B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Hartling
authors.forename: Birgit Fischer
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Jean W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Keeling
authors.forename: Lene T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Skovgaard
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kjaer
mesh_terms: D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007085:Ilium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*