Volume scanning in the evaluation of fetal malformations: a new dimension in prenatal diagnosis

TLDR

Three‑dimensional ultrasound can generate high‑quality surface or translucency images of fetal structures in seconds without an extra workstation. The authors performed 3D ultrasound on 204 patients with fetal malformations between 13 and 40 weeks using Combison 330/530 machines and a 3.5/5 MHz abdominal Voluson sector transducer. The technique proved advantageous in 62 % of cases, provided equivalent information in 36 %, and was disadvantageous in 2 % of fetuses with cardiac malformations due to motion artefacts, illustrating both its benefits and limitations. © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Abstract

Abstract Three‐dimensional ultrasound examination was performed in 204 patients with a fetal malformation detected by conventional ultrasound. The patients were examined between 13 and 40 weeks of gestation. The ultrasound equipment used was a Combison 330 and a Combison 530 (Kretztechnik, Austria) with an abdominal Voluson sector transducer (3.5/5 MHz) (Kretztechnik, Austria). This ultrasound system can provide a high‐quality three‐dimensional surface or translucency image of fetal structures similar to that of a photograph or an X‐ray image within seconds without an additional expensive work‐station. Of the 204 patients examined with three‐dimensional ultrasound, this technique proved advantageous in demonstrating fetal defects in 62% (127/204). In 36% (73/204), the three‐dimensional technique gave the same information and in four fetuses with a cardiac malformation (2%), the three‐dimensional technique was disadvantageous, due to movement artefacts during data acquisition. The technical advantages and problems of this three‐dimensional technique are demonstrated. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology