Three-dimensional versus two-dimensional postmortem ultrasound: feasibility in perinatal death investigation

Abstract

3-D/4-D ultrasound techniques in antenatal screening are commonplace, but not routinely used for perinatal post-mortem ultrasound. In this technical innovation, we performed both 2-D and 3-D post-mortem ultrasound on 11 foetuses (mean gestation: 23 weeks; range: 15 -32 weeks) to determine if there was any benefit in 3-D methods over conventional 2-D ultrasound. In 1 case of osteogenesis imperfecta, both 2-D and 3-D ultrasound were non-diagnostic due to small foetal size. Of the remaining 10 foetuses, 7 were normal at imaging and autopsy; and 3 had abnormalities detected on both 2-D and 3-D ultrasound. There were no false positive diagnoses by 2-D or 3-D ultrasound. Whilst 3-D post-mortem ultrasound was a feasible technique, it did not provide additional information over 2-D ultrasound. Routine 3-D post-mortem ultrasound cannot therefore be routinely recommended based on our findings.