Three-dimensional ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal akinesia deformation sequence.
OBJECTIVE
To present the appearance of the fetal akinesia deformation sequence by three-dimensional ultrasonography after four-dimensional ultrasonographic scanning.


METHODS
Three-dimensional surface-rendering images were used to show the fixed postural abnormalities of the fetal extremities and body. Four-dimensional ultrasonography was used to show that the postural abnormalities were fixed and to confirm the absence of fetal movements. These images were compared with the postmortem examination findings.


RESULTS
Three-dimensional ultrasonographic images of 3 cases of fetal akinesia deformation sequence are presented. Surface-rendering imaging and imaging in the skeletal mode were performed to show the postural abnormalities and the arthrogryposis.


CONCLUSIONS
Facilitated by polyhydramnios, three- and four-dimensional ultrasonography provided clear images of the fixed postural abnormalities, which were confirmed by postmortem examination. Although prenatal diagnosis can be easily made by conventional ultrasonography, three-dimensional ultrasonography might be used as a confirmatory approach. In addition, the quality of recent three-dimensional imaging might help prenatal counseling by providing images more readily understandable to the parents than those obtained by two-dimensional ultrasonography.
Ruano
Rodrigo
R
Maternité, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université de Paris V, Paris, France. rodrigoruano@hotmail.com
Dumez
Yves
Y
Dommergues
Marc
M
D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal