title: Umbilical vein varix: Importance of ante- and post-natal monitoring by ultrasound.
abstract: Foetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix is rare. Colour Doppler ultrasonography helps distinguish this vascular anomaly. A detailed anatomic scan must be performed to exclude associated anomalies: forms associated with additional complications are found in 29 to 35% of the cases. Intra-uterine foetal demise (IUFD) is a complication of umbilical vein varix. However, recent studies are more reassuring. When foetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix is isolated, there is no reason to change the management of the pregnancy. Foetal sonographic follow-up is recommended, focusing on an increase in the size of the varix and the appearance of a clot. A particular clinical form, connecting the umbilicus to the extra-hepatic portal vein should be known, because of a high risk of thrombosis. On the basis of this finding, postnatal monitoring by ultrasound is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie anténatale et pédiatrique, université de Rennes 1, centre hospitalier universitaire hôpital Sud, 16, boulevard Bulgarie, BP 90347, 35203 Rennes cedex 2, France. Electronic address: eugenie.beraud@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beraud
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie anténatale et pédiatrique, université de Rennes 1, centre hospitalier universitaire hôpital Sud, 16, boulevard Bulgarie, BP 90347, 35203 Rennes cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rozel
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie anténatale et pédiatrique, université de Rennes 1, centre hospitalier universitaire hôpital Sud, 16, boulevard Bulgarie, BP 90347, 35203 Rennes cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milon
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie anténatale et pédiatrique, université de Rennes 1, centre hospitalier universitaire hôpital Sud, 16, boulevard Bulgarie, BP 90347, 35203 Rennes cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Darnault
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Dilatation; Portal vein; Prenatal diagnosis; Umbilical vein; Venous thrombosis