HDlive imaging of the face of fetuses with autosomal trisomies

Abstract

HDlive can provide clearer facial images than conventional 3D ultrasound. In particular, HDlive is superior to conventional 3D ultrasound for the depiction of eye fissures because of its shadowing effect. HDlive may be a useful diagnostic modality for the antenatal evaluation of subtle fetal facial dysmorphism.

Three-dimensional ultrasonography by means of HDlive rendering in the first trimester of pregnancy: A pictorial review

“…It can aid the prenatal diagnosis of orofacial malformations such as cleft lip as it enables enhanced anatomical details of the facial surface and structures even at a very early stage of embryo-fetal development ( Figure 8). HDlive may be the diagnostic investigation and supplement conventional 2D/3D ultrasound in cases of acrania/ exencephaly (30) or in case of minor or subtle fetal face abnormalities such as flattened nose and broad nasal bridge (31,32) or be highly illustrative in case of severe midline defects (33,34), particularly when surface rendering of the fetal face is applied after 28 weeks of gestation (34). Again, abdominal wall defects such as exomphalos and gastroschisis are well documented and illustrative ( Figure 9, 10).…”

HDlive in the Assessment of Fetal Facial Abnormalities

“…16,17 Abnormal prenatal sonographic findings of the fetal face are cleft lip or palate, close-set eyes (hypotelorism), cyclopia, a proboscis, low-set ears, a small head (microcephaly) and small lower jaw (micrognathia). 18,19 In a characteristic case of trisomy 13 at 31 weeks and 1 day, cleft lip and close-set eyes were recognized with HDlive and confirmed after birth 13 ( Figs 10A and B). …”

“…In particular, HDlive is superior to conventional 3D ultrasound for the depiction of eye fissures because of its shadowing effect. 13 This technique provides an extraordinarily realistic images of the fetal face, making it almost impossible to differentiate between actual photographs and HDlive images. 12 HDlive offers a potential advantage over conventional 3D ultrasound.…”

“…21 Facial malformations associated with trisomy 18 include a small head (microcephaly) accompanied by a prominent back portion of the head, low-set, malformed ears, micrognathia, cleft-lip or palate, an upturned nose, narrow eyelid folds, and widely spaced eyes. 22 In one case of trisomy 18 at 27 weeks and 6 days, a small head accompanied by a prominent back portion of the head, low-set ears, a small jaw, an upturned nose, narrow eyelid folds, and widely spaced eyes were identified using HDlive 13 (Figs 11A and B). In two other cases of trisomy 18 (Figs 12 and 13), HDlive showed more detailed features of the fetal face compared to conventional 3D ultrasound.…”

“…12 Moreover, HDlive can provide clearer facial images than conventional 3D ultrasound. 13 In particular, HDlive is superior to conventional 3D ultrasound for the depiction of eye fissures because of its shadowing effect. The present paper describes the latest state-of-the-art HDlive imaging of normal and abnormal fetal faces, and makes recommendations for future research in this field.…”