No abstract

In first-trimester screening for Down syndrome by maternal serum PAPP-A and free beta-hCG the impact of correcting for the dose dependant rather than the all or nil effect of smoking is marginal. However, a dose dependent correction improves the accuracy of the individual patient-specific risk.

Objectives To examine whether the maternal serum concentration of the soluble receptor-1 of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-R1

Automated microscopy identified fetal cells in both first and second trimester maternal blood samples. Although we were unable to detect fetal erythroblasts in numbers sufficient for clinical diagnosis, the ability to reliably detect fetal cells by FISH-based scanning opens the possibility for prenatal detection of chromosomal aberrations utilizing circulating fetal cells.

Congenital epulis is a rare benign oral cavity tumor that usually arises from the maxillary alveolar mucosa. It is also known as congenital gingival granular cell tumor. Prenatal diagnosis is uncommon and mostly confined to the third trimester. We report a case of congenital epulis, which was referred to our department at 35 weeks of gestation. Both images from our prenatal 2D/3D ultrasound (including Doppler technique) and magnetic resonance examination are presented. A baby girl weighing 2,800 g was delivered spontaneously at 36 weeks and 1 day. The newborn had to be intubated immediately after delivery. A simple excision of the mass was performed on the first day of neonatal life after clinical examination by our pediatric stomatologists confirmed the presence of a tumor resembling epulis. The correctness of this diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by histogenesis. Photographs from the operating room show the postnatal appearance of the tumor. The baby was discharged at the age of 19 days and has remained well at follow-up controls.

No abstract

Facial clefts are among the most common congenital defects. Ultrasound (US) imaging of secondary fetal palate, especially the detection of isolated defects, remains challenging. Currently described two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional methods are technically demanding and impractical for application during routine fetal anatomy evaluation. As an adjunct method, magnetic resonance imaging can provide additional information but has its limitations. We present a novel 2D US approach using axial and sagittal planes to evaluate the fetal palate and demonstrate the main differences between an intact palate, isolated cleft palate, and a cleft lip with cleft palate.

Objectives: To determine which 3-D techniques are most effective for “real time” prenatal ultrasound assessment of the corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis. Methods: A prospective study involving 100 consecutive normal singleton pregnancies attending routine anomaly scan at 19-23 weeks' gestation. Midsagittal structures of the fetal brain were assessed using six different methods of 3-D image acquisition and three post-processing techniques. The quality of the resulting images were then assessed and scored by a second operator. The significance of the difference between various techniques was assessed using the Friedman test. Results: The best method for visualization of both corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis in one image involved 3-D acquisition in a sagittal plane through the sagittal suture with manipulated 3-D OVIX™ (Oblique View eXtended Imaging) reconstruction. Five other methods scored closely and were not significantly different; all were based on 3-D acquisition in the sagittal plane through either sagittal suture or anterior fontanel. Conclusions: We have applied described techniques for 3-D central nervous system volume acquisition and have shown that the best method of assessment, allowing assessment of both the corpus callosum and the cerebellar vermis, involves midsagittal acquisition through the sagittal suture with 3-D OVIX reconstruction. This technique can be applied successfully in 83% of cases.