title: A case of ultrasound diagnosis of fetal hiatal hernia in late third trimester of pregnancy.
abstract: Congenital hiatal hernia is a condition characterized by herniation of the abdominal organs, most commonly the stomach, through a physiological but overlax esophageal hiatus into the thoracic cavity. Prenatal diagnosis of this anomaly is unusual and only eight cases have been reported in the literature. In this paper we describe a case of congenital hiatal hernia that was suspected at ultrasound at 39 weeks' gestation, on the basis of a cystic mass in the posterior mediastinum, juxtaposed to the vertebral body. Postnatal upper gastrointestinal tract series confirmed the prenatal diagnosis. Postnatal management was planned with no urgency. Hiatal hernia is not commonly considered in the differential diagnosis of fetal cystic chest anomalies. This rare case documents the importance of prenatal diagnosis of this anomaly for prenatal counseling and postnatal management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Francesco
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariano Matteo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Unit, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maestri
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faiola
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rustico
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrazzi