title: Etiology and outcome of fetal echogenic bowel. Ten years of experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency of certain etiologies in fetal echogenic bowel and the related pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study including 215 cases. Ultrasound findings included bowel abnormality, malformations, growth retardation and Doppler abnormalities. Amniocentesis was performed in 196 cases to screen for abnormalities in karyotype, cystic fibrosis gene and infection. The color of amniotic fluid and a history of first-trimester bleeding were also noted. Outcome according to different etiologies was reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  112 cases (57%) had a known etiology, which included chromosomal abnormality (7%), infection (4%), cystic fibrosis (1.5%), bowel abnormality (3%), bleeding or stained amniotic fluid (11%), Doppler abnormality (14%), malformation (16%) and miscellaneous (0.5%). Pregnancy was terminated in 39 cases and fetal demise complicated one third of the cases (13) of severe growth retardation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal echogenic bowel should be investigated and a careful follow-up is necessary if there is associated Doppler perturbation or growth retardation.
authors.affiliation: Perinatalogy Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Assaad K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kesrouani
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guibourdenche
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Denamur
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vuillard
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garel
authors.forename: Anne Lise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Delezoide
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eydoux
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tachdjian
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebon
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Lagausie
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sibony
authors.forename: Clarisse
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Oury
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luton
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography