[Obstetrical ultrasonography].
BACKGROUND
As with all new diagnostic options in medicine, great hope was placed in the introduction of high-resolution prenatal sonography. Progress tends to induce higher expectations. Patients and doctors alike may initially overestimate the possibilities of medical advances.


OBJECTIVE
The question at hand is whether we can validate a positive influence of prenatal ultrasound on the fetal and/or maternal pregnancy outcome, and how a sonographic routine screening should be structured.


METHODS
This is an attempt to survey the heterogeneous pool of internationally published data with regard to these critical questions.


CONCLUSIONS
Different studies lead to a positive conclusion on the benefits of ultrasound monitoring in pregnant women. Ultrasound screening has a positive effect on medical as well as economic issues. Nevertheless litigation concerning prenatal diagnosis remains a growing problem.
Strauss
Alexander
A
Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe Grosshadern, Klinikum der Universität München, Deutschland. Alexander.Strauss@gyn.med.uni-muenchen.de
Müller-Egloff
Susanne
S
Heer
Ivo Markus
IM
D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal