title: Ultrasonographic evidence of intra-abdominal umbilical vein dilatation: is it a true varix?
abstract: Fetal intraabdominal umbilical vein (FIUV) dilatation, or varix, is a rare ultrasonographic (US) finding of focal dilatation of the umbilical vein. This article describes FIUV tortuosity in cases with suspected varix and provides ultrasonographic criteria for its diagnosis. Cases of suspected FIUV varix referred to our unit for final diagnosis and follow-up were studied. Each woman underwent comprehensive US evaluations that included basic grayscale scan and color Doppler scan. In 12 singleton pregnancies, primary grayscale scan confirmed FIUV dilatation. Supplementary color Doppler scans, however, revealed linear bidirectional blood flow and FIUV tortuosity in all cases. Color Doppler scans did not depict true FIUV dilatations or varix but rather a tortuous course of the vein. A normal pregnancy outcome can be expected in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center,Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yoni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Har-Tov
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fait
authors.forename: Igal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wolman
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaffa
mesh_terms: D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*