ABSTRACT

Foetal abdominal cysts are frequently found on routine antenatal ultrasound. Various sonographic features might help in their differential diagnosis. However, a definitive diagnosis is often not made until postnatal life, and detection of an intra-abdominal cyst antenatally rarely alters obstetric management. A review of possible causes of a foetal abdominal cyst is presented.

No abstract

Objectives: To evaluate conservative management of fetal and neonatal ovarian cysts. Methods: We followed the progress of 11 fetal and 2 neonatal ovarian cysts. Results: Ten fetal cysts were simple at recognition, but 8 silently became complex by birth, with ovarian loss in 6/11 cases (54%). In 2 cases where large simple cysts presented for the first time at birth, serious complications occurred, resulting in the death of 1 newborn. Conclusions: If a fetal ovarian cyst is already complex before birth it can be managed conservatively, albeit with loss of the ipsilateral ovary in the majority of cases. As simple fetal ovarian cysts frequently become complex before birth, intervention may be justifiable to preserve the ovary. But any intervention also has the potential for complications, and may be ineffective. Intervention also requires accurate differentiation of ovarian cysts from other abdominal cysts.

Prenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large oropharyngeal tumor, and cardiac and cranial abnormalities consistent with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in a third-trimester fetus, which were confirmed on postmortem examination. Sonographic features of NF1 are generally nonspecific; MR examination provided significant additional information, facilitating prenatal diagnosis.

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries

Sonographic appearances and symptoms correlate poorly with each other and with histologic results. Sonography has limited benefits in triaging women with suspected RPOC after TOP in the first trimester. Our findings support a more conservative approach to suspected RPOC after TOP.

The role of echo-enhanced sonography is limited at present in our neonatal population as a screening examination. Its ability to detect cases of high-grade reflux may make it an attractive alternative in follow-up of known cases of VUR, and may help to reduce radiation exposure in this group.