The clinic value of color Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy

Objective To summarize the characteristics of prenatal and postnatal ultrasonic image in hemivertebra fetal malformation. Methods The present study enrolled 12 ultrasound diagnosed hemivertebra fetal malformation and confirmed by either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray in Guangdong Provincial Maternal and Children's Hospital from January 2012 to May 2013. All the ultrasonic image were collected to summarize their characteristics. Results In the twelve cases of prenatal ultrasonic image of hemivertebrae: (1) Vertebral anomaly patterns: the irregular-shape of bones are smaller than normal vertebral bony hyperechoic which inserted into the normal intervertebral in wedge-shape, scoliosis or angular deformity. (2) Diseased parts: in the 12 fetuses, 5 had single vertebral deformity while the other 7 had multiple vertebral deformities. For the location of the lesion, there were 6 dysmorphia appeared in thoracic, 3 appearedin lumbar, 1 appeared in sacrococcygeal, 1 appeared in both cervical and thoracic, and 1 appeared in both thoracic and lumbar. (3) Associated with other malformations: 4 term delivery fetuses confirmed diagnosis of hemivertebra malformation by MRI (the diagnosis of hemivertebra was confirmed by both the fetal MRI and postnatal X-ray in 2 of them within 3 days); 8 fetuses had additional anomalies, including heart malformations. Three of them were induced abortion, the X-ray images of the fetal sample showed hemivertebradysmorphia. Five women chosed induced laborin local hospital, and the X-ray images of the fetal were diagnosed as hemivertebradysmorphia. One of them with rib deletion in thoracic was missed diagnosed. Conclusions Three-dimensional ultrasonicimages can clearly show the degree of scoliosis, locate vertebra. It provides important imaging evidence for the treatment of fetal dysmorphiaafter labor. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Fetal; Spine, congenital abnormalities