title: Correlation between prenatal ultrasound and fetal autopsy findings in fetal anomalies terminated in the second trimester.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare the consistency of major/minor fetal anomalies detected by second trimester prenatal ultrasound examination with the findings in fetal autopsies following the termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the second trimester.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 4-year long prospective study, 107 second-trimester TOP was performed due to fetal malformation diagnosed by second trimester-ultrasound examination at a tertiary referral center. Ultrasound findings were compared with fetal autopsy findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 107 cases with major fetal anomalies diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound, 49% had central nervous system anomalies, 23% had kidney and urinary tract anomalies, 11% had congenital heart disease. All of these major anomalies leading to TOP were confirmed by fetal autopsy (100% success rate in major anomalies). Overall success rate in prenatal ultrasound for major and minor anomalies was 77%. The percentage of additional minor anomalies detected in fetal autopsies was 20%. Three percent of the minor anomalies detected by prenatal ultrasonography could not be confirmed during autopsy. Chromosomal anomalies were detected in 9 (16%) out of 57 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of fetal autopsies following TOP enables diagnosis of pathologies undetected by prenatal ultrasound alone, leading to better preconceptional counseling for subsequent pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Department of Pathology, Kayseri, Turkey. hulyaakgun@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akgun
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basbug
authors.forename: Mahmut Tuncay
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ozgun
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Canoz
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tokat
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozturk
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D000025:Abortion, Eugenic; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal