Fetal Diagn Ther

Fetal parvovirus B19 infection and meconium peritonitis.

Year 1998
Schild RL. Plath H. Thomas P. Schulte-Wissermann H. Eis-Hubinger AM. Hansmann M.
Department of Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany. rlschild@mailer.meb.uni-bonn.de
A 33-year-old primigravida at 26 weeks gestation presented with fetal hydrops and fetal anemia following prior parvovirus B19 infection. The fetus required two intrauterine transfusions of packed red cells. At 35 weeks gestation, a cesarean section was performed for obstetric reasons. As a consequence of a prenatal bowel perforation, the neonate developed meconium peritonitis, for which she needed laparotomy. This case demonstrates that there may be an association between intrauterine parvovirus infection and meconium peritonitis, the latter possibly caused by vascular injury in fetal life.

Prenatal diagnosis of a lethal multiple pterygium syndrome type II. Case report.

Year 1998
Entezami M. Runkel S. Kunze J. Weitzel HK. Becker R.
Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Benjamin Franklin, Free University of Berlin, Germany. Entezami@ukbf.fu-berlin.de
Advances in ultrasound technology and sonographer's experience lead to the description of many rare syndromes and malformations through prenatal diagnosis. Diaphragmatic hernia is a rather common malformation but can be an indicator of different syndromes. We report the prenatal diagnosis of lethal multiple pterygium syndrome type II which has been established in the 34th week of pregnancy. The sonographically detectable symptoms consisted of polyhydramnios, hygroma colli, diaphragmatic hernia, scoliosis, short forearms, hypokinesia of the fetus and pterygia over the large joints. Labour was induced in the 34th week of pregnancy; the neonate died shortly after vaginal delivery as a result of the pulmonary hypoplasia. A multidisciplinary approach in prenatal assessment may help to clarify difficult diagnostic problems and may be of direct benefit for the pregnant patient.

A case with duodenal duplication cyst: prenatal diagnosis and surgical management.

Year 1998
Yamataka A. Pringle KC.
Department of Surgery, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand. yama@med.juntendo.ac.jp
OBJECTIVE: We report the first case of a subhepatic cystic mass diagnosed in utero that subsequently proved to be a duodenal duplication cyst. METHOD: Conventional prenatal abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: On prenatal ultrasonography, the differential diagnosis was choledochal cyst, bowel duplication cyst, or omental cyst. CONCLUSION: The prenatal detection of a cystic mass allowed close neonatal surveillance and timely surgical intervention prior to the onset of potentially serious complications.