title: Fetal skeletal computed tomography: when? How? Why?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the additional role of fetal skeletal computed tomography in suspected prenatal bone abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two centers included in a retrospective study all fetuses who benefited from skeletal computed tomography for a suspected constitutional bone disease or focal dysostosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 198 patients were included. CT was performed in 112 patients (56%) for an isolated short femur below the third percentile (group A), in 15 patients (8%) for bowed or fractured femur (group B), in 23 patients (12%) for biometric discrepancy between a short femur and increased head circumference (group C) and in 48 patients (24%) for suspected focal dysostosis (group D). CT was interpreted as normal in 126 cases (64%), i.e. 87% in group A, 0% in group B, 65% in group C and 25% in group D. When including only cases with postnatal or postmortem clinical and/or radiological confirmation was available, CT provided additional and/or more accurate information than ultrasound in 20% of cases in group A, 66% in group B, 30% in group C and 72% in group D. Sixty-seven percent of patients in whom CT was interpreted as normal were lost to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In isolated short femur, fetal skeletal CT is normal in the great majority of cases although protocolized follow-up of these babies is absolutely compulsory, as a large proportion is lost to follow-up. Fetal skeletal CT can confirm or improve imaging for the suspected diagnosis in suspected focal dysostosis or constitutional bone disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Prenatal Imaging, La Timone Children's Hospital, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France; Multidisciplinary Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, La Timone Children's Hospital, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France. Electronic address: guillaume.gorincour@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorincour
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Nord Hospital, chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille, France; Multidisciplinary Centre for Prenatal Diagnosis, Nord Hospital, chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaumoitre
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Prenatal Imaging, La Timone Children's Hospital, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bourliere-Najean
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Centre for Prenatal Diagnosis, Nord Hospital, chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bretelle
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, La Timone Children's Hospital, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sigaudy
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Centre for Prenatal Diagnosis, Nord Hospital, chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Ercole
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, La Timone Children's Hospital, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, La Timone Children's Hospital, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potier
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Prenatal Imaging, La Timone Children's Hospital, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Nord Hospital, chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille, France; Multidisciplinary Centre for Prenatal Diagnosis, Nord Hospital, chemin des Bourrely, 13015 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panuel
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D002508:Cephalometry; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004413:Dysostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D005269:Femur / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005333:Fetus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods
keywords: 2D ultrasound; CT; Constitutional bone diseases; Prenatal diagnosis