title: Fetal intra-abdominal cysts: accuracy and predictive value of prenatal ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The finding of a fetal intra-abdominal cyst is relatively common and it can be due to a wide variety of clinical conditions. The aims of this study were to determine the accuracy of the prenatal ultrasound (US) in identifying the etiology of fetal intra-abdominal cysts and to describe the neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of fetal intra-abdominal cystic lesion referred to our center between 2004 and 2012 were reviewed. Cysts of urinary system origin were excluded. Prenatal and postnatal data were collected. Our cohort was divided into subgroups according to the prenatal suspected origin of the lesion (ovarian, mesenteric, gastro-intestinal and other locations). For each subgroup, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, false-positive rate and accuracy of fetal US were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 47 fetuses (10/37 M/F) were identified. The mean gestational age at the time of diagnosis was 33 ± 4.9 weeks. Our cohort comprised of 25 ovarian cysts (10 simplex and 15 complex), 3 GI duplication, 6 mesenteric lesions, 4 meconium pseudocyst and 9 lesions of other origin. Surgery was performed in 38 cases (81%) at birth. The prenatally established diagnosis was exactly concordant with post-natal findings in 34 cases (72.3%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and false-positive rate of US were 88.1%, 95.5%, 71% and 5.4%, respectively. Long-term outcome was good in almost 90% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The etiology of fetal intra-abdominal cysts can be prenatally diagnosed in about 70% cases. Despite the high risk of surgery at birth, the long-term outcome was good in most of the cases.
authors.affiliation: a Pediatric Surgery and Urology Unit , San Camillo Forlanini Hospital , Rome , Italy .
authors.forename: Vincenzo Davide
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.affiliation: a Pediatric Surgery and Urology Unit , San Camillo Forlanini Hospital , Rome , Italy .
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.affiliation: b Radiology Department , San Camillo Forlanini Hospital , Rome , Italy .
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Giacomo
authors.affiliation: b Radiology Department , San Camillo Forlanini Hospital , Rome , Italy .
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miele
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , San Camillo Forlanini Hospital , Rome , Italy , and.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.affiliation: d Department of Public Health , Section of Hygiene, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Waure
authors.affiliation: d Department of Public Health , Section of Hygiene, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna Elisa
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.affiliation: a Pediatric Surgery and Urology Unit , San Camillo Forlanini Hospital , Rome , Italy .
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calisti
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: Fetal; intra-abdominal cyst; intra-abdominal mass; prenatal diagnosis; prenatal ultrasound