title: [Ultrasonography of fetal esophagus: healthy appearance and prenatal diagnosis of a case of esophagus atresia with esotracheal fistula].
abstract: The thoracic part of a fetal esophagus is generally overlooked by usual prenatal ultrasonography. However, screening it might improve the detection rate of esophageal malformations for which prenatal diagnosis remains far from accurate. In this article, we describe the technique which makes it possible to get a precise image of a fetal thoracic esophagus in its more sensitive part: between the trachea and the aorta. After describing the appearance of a healthy thoracic esophagus, we will show how this technique can be used for prenatal detection of esophagus malformations. For this purpose, we provide the case report of a prenatal diagnosis of esophagus atresia with esotracheal fistula.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, CHU Carémeau, Place du Professeur-Robert-Debré, 30900 Nîmes, France.
authors.forename: J-E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Develay-Morice
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rathat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duyme
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fredouille
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deschamps
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frandji-Barbier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marès
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal