title: [Diagnosis of spina bifida in fetuses using tomographic ultrasound imaging: a preliminary study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) in the diagnosis of spina bifida in fectuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight fetuses suspected of having spina bifida following 2-D ultrasound underwent TUI examination. The fetal spines were observed on the coronal, transverse and sagittal views to confirm the location and severity of the spinal lesions, and the ultrasound findings were compared with the pathological results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 6 of the 8 fetuses with spina bifida, TUI obtained clear images demonstrating the presence of the lesions, and the results of TUI diagnosis were consistent with pathological examination of the fetuses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TUI can clearly visualize spinal bifida in fetuses, and as a useful complementary technique to 2-D ultrasound, TUI may obviously improve the capacity of conventional ultrasound for diagnosis of fetal spina bifida.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China. du4655@163.com
authors.forename: Xiao-li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Long-xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chang-kun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult