Three-dimensional ultrasonographic measurements of the fetal lungs for prediction of perinatal outcome in isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential of different lung measurements using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3D-US) to predict perinatal outcome in isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).


METHODS
Twenty-one fetuses presenting isolated CDH were prospectively evaluated by 3D-US between January 2002 and November 2003. Observed/expected total, contralateral and ipsilateral fetal lung volume ratios (o/e-TotFLV, o/e-ContFLV and o/e-IpsiFLV, respectively) were calculated using the rotational technique and ultrasonographic fetal total lung volume to bodyweight ratio (USFLW). These lung measurements were compared to each other and to perinatal outcomes: perinatal deaths, severe pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).


RESULTS
Perinatal death occurred in 11 of the 21 infants (52.4%), severe PH in 14 of 21 infants (66.7%) and PAH in 14 of 20 neonates (70%). Severe PH and PAH occurred simultaneously in 12 of 20 (60%) infants. Good correlations between lung ratios were observed. O/e-TotFLV, o/e-IpsiFLV and USFLW correlated statistically with postnatal diagnosis of severe PH, while only o/e-TotFLH correlated statistically with postnatal diagnosis of PAH. The accuracies of o/e-TotFLV, o/e-ContFLV, o/e-IpsiFLV and USFLW in predicting perinatal deaths were 85.7, 76.2, 66.7 and 76.2%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
O/e-TotFLV using 3D-US appears to be the most accurate predictor of perinatal mortality because it can predict both PH and PAH.
Maternity Department, Faculty of Medicine, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, University of Paris, Paris, France. rodrigoruano@hotmail.com
Rodrigo
R
Ruano
Marie-Cécile
MC
Aubry
Bruno
B
Barthe
Yves
Y
Dumez
Alexandra
A
Benachi
D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005333:Fetus; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography