title: Prenatal diagnosis of fetal gastroschisis using three-dimensional ultrasound: comparison between the 20th and 21st centuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to compare the trends and improvements of prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis, we herein retrospectively reviewed our cases of fetal gastroschisis detected by three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) between the two centuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed our computer database of prenatal diagnosis on gastroschisis in National Cheng Kung University Hospital from October 1994 to November 2011. All the fetuses were initially scanned by two-dimensional (2D) US to locate the region of interest (ROI). Then, the 3D probe was used to scan all the ROI systematically and mechanically, and all the images were stored on laser discs for further 3D visualization and reconstruction. To compare the characteristics at prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis between the 20th and 21st centuries in our hospital, the Chi-square test and Student t test were used. The p values less than 0.05 and 0.1 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 26 fetuses with gastroschisis were depicted by 3D US in utero (10 cases were diagnosed in the 20th century and 16 cases in the 21st century). The ranges of gestational age at prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis by 3D US in the 20th century were between 14 and 34 weeks (mean: 21.6 weeks) and between 14 and 33 weeks (mean: 21.9 weeks) in the 21st century. Moreover, seven cases (70%) were diagnosed before the third trimester in the 20th century, whereas 13 cases (81%) were diagnosed before the third trimester in the 21st century.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although without statistical significance, higher prenatal diagnosis rate before the third trimester in the 21st century was noted. The improvement of 3D US has remarkable advantages in adding novel visual depiction of a 3D lesion of a 3D fetus in 3D US after reconstruction and thus assists substantially in prenatal diagnosis, genetic consultation, and perinatal management of gastroschisis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine and National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsing-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yueh-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Huei-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Pei-Yin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chen-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chiung-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Fong-Ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: gastroschisis; prenatal diagnosis; three-dimensional ultrasound