Sonographic evaluation of fetal growth: growth rate variability as a function of the interval between examinations

OBJECTIVE: Fetal growth rates determined on the basis of findings at two separate sonographic examinations can be used to detect growth abnormalities. This article determines the relationship between the length of the interval between examinations and the associated variability in measured fetal growth rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 1479 fetal measurements of the biparietal diameter, average abdominal diameter, and femur length from 539 normal pregnancies. Mean growth rates were computed as functions of gestational age. The standard deviation of the growth rate was computed as a function of the interval between examinations. RESULTS: The standard deviation of fetal growth rates is relatively constant when the interval between examinations is 8-10 weeks or more, but increases substantially when the interval is fewer than 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: From a purely statistical point of view, the optimal interval for assessment of fetal growth rates is 8-10 weeks or more. Shorter intervals, however, usually are mandated by the clinical situation. Correction factors can be used to determine the standard deviations and associated confidence intervals for fetal growth measured over a period of fewer than 10 weeks.     

Acute abdomen in the third trimester

The authors report a case of acute abdomen in the third trimester of pregnancy as observed at the II Obstetrics and Gynecologic Department of Florence University. Emphasis is laid on the frequent abnormality of the symptomatology and therefore the difficult of early diagnosis. The conclusion is reached that a greater semeiologic accuracy on behalf of the specialist as well as memorization of the several clinical charts responsible for such pathology, allow an earlier diagnosis with consequent improvement of maternal and fetal prognosis.     

Gossypiboma of the abdomen

Intra-abdominal cysts may rise from a variety of organs. However, foreign-body reaction and cyst formation should be considered in the differential diagnosis. In this report, we describe the finding of a preoperatively undetected gossypiboma. A gossypiboma is a mass within the body that is composed of a cotton matrix; in this case, an unmarked laparotomy sponge. The evaluation, findings, and prevention of gossypiboma are discussed.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the densely scarred abdomen

Extensive intra-abdominal adhesions are a possible contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and are known to occur after peritonitis because of perforated hollow viscus or multiple abdominal operations. Four such patients, who had undergone three or more previous abdominal operations, and had additional complicating factors, were successfully treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. An initial subxiphoid incision with blunt finger dissection was used to place the primary port. This approach achieves greater success and is safer than the traditional open umbilical dissection, because it avoids extensive lysis of small bowel and transverse colon adhesions from the anterior abdominal wall.     

Interventional radiology in the acute pediatric abdomen

This article addresses the most common types of interventional procedures performed in the pediatric abdomen. Nonvascular interventions are stressed because they are more common than vascular interventions.     

Sonographic evaluation of the uterine cervix

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the uterine cervix has been shown to help predict patients who may be at an increased risk for preterm delivery. The use of ultrasound in at-risk patients may improve the selection of those needing obstetric intervention, which therefore, may improve outcome and lower overall health care costs. Cervical competence, once thought to be a categorical variable, should now be thought of as a continuous variable, as the shortest cervical lengths are found in those women with a history of very early preterm delivery (> 24 weeks). Adjunctive tests, such as fetal fibronectin Bishop scoring and bacterial vaginosis may help to improve the accuracy of prediction of preterm birth; therefore a multifaceted risk approach to preterm birth is suggested in this article.     

Attenuation values in computed tomography of the abdomen

Attenuation values were obtained from 50 CT examinations of the upper abdomen. A normal range of values, obtained for the organs in the upper abdomen, was compared with patient size and age. Rank ordering according to the mean attenuation values was also performed. The most significant finding was that the liver normally had the highest attenuation value of any of the viscera measured. When another organ in the upper abdomen had a mean value greater than that of the liver, this reflected severe systemic disease.     

Helical CT applications in the thorax and abdomen

The past few years have witnessed a massive explosion in clinical applications for computed tomography (CT) as a result of exponential advances in technology. Most clinical practitioners have a limited understanding of the complexities and dynamics of modern CT, and even many radiologists are unable to keep up with the rapid evolution in refinements. In this article, Dr Rappaport summarizes some of the most recent advances in use of helical, or spiral, CT to diagnose diseases of the thorax and abdomen.     

Sonographic detection of parallel great arteries in the fetus

OBJECTIVE: Of all fetal malformations, those affecting the heart, particularly the great arteries, are most commonly overlooked during obstetric sonography. The appearance of normally related great arteries in the fetus is described. Abnormal parallel great artery orientation was detected on sonography in 24 fetuses over a 3-year period. This abnormality was most commonly due to double outlet right ventricle. CONCLUSION: Examination of the cardiac outflow tracts during obstetric sonography can detect great artery malformations prenatally, allowing optimum perinatal management.     

Sonographic findings in haemodialysis-related chronic arthropathy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a group of women with voiding dysfunction and a low maximum flow rate (MFR) (less than or equal to 12 mL/s) after surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI); to establish diagnostic parameters indicating obstruction in an attempt to determine treatment selection; and to evaluate preliminary surgical results. METHODS: Eighteen women who underwent anti-incontinence surgery for SUI were diagnosed as having infravesical obstruction (IO). Thirteen women (group A [72%]) presented with clinically predominant symptoms of urgency, frequency, intermittency, and a variable vesical residual volume (RV), and five (group B [28%]) had as their most significant symptoms a high vesical RV and urinary tract infection that had been managed with intermittent catheterization (IC). The diagnosis of IO, suspected after clinical history, was established after physical examination and cystoscopic, cystographic and urodynamic investigations. RESULTS: Bladder instability was demonstrated in 6 group A patients (46%) and 1 group B patient (20%) (P = NS). Mean MFRs were 8.07 and 7.2 mL/s, respectively, in both groups (P = NS). Mean maximal voiding pressures (MVPs) were 20.23 and 5 cm H20, and mean RVs were 57.46 and 174 mL, respectively; both differences were statistically very significant (P <0.01 and P <0.001, respectively). High to normal MVPs occurred in 2 patients overall (11%). Bladder neck overcorrection, midurethral distortion, and postsurgical cystocele were demonstrated in both groups in 11 (85%), 0, and 2 (15%) patients in group A and 3 (60%), 2 (40%), and 3 (60%) patients in group B, respectively (P = NS). Patients in group A were treated surgically with cystourethrolysis and a repeated, less obstructive anti-incontinence operation. In group B 2 women (40%) had a similar surgical procedure; 1 (20%) underwent isolated urethrolysis; and 2 (40%) are currently maintained with IC. CONCLUSIONS: Among these 18 patients with voiding dysfunction after anti-incontinence surgery, a primary diagnosis of IO was established clinically. Only patients with a low MFR were selected for this study. Cytographic and endoscopic investigation as well as the presence of postsurgical cystocele assisted in establishing the diagnosis. The success rate with urethrolysis and resuspension was 60% for the 13 women with predominantly urgency, frequency, and the highest MVPs (20.23 +/- 9.67 cm H20 [group A) and 33% for the 5 women with urinary retention presenting the lowest MVPs (5.00 +/- 7.07 cm H20 [group A]) and 33% for the 5 women with urinary retention presenting the lowest MVPs (5.00 +/- 7.07 cm H20 [group B]). An added resuspension procedure is probably unnecessary in the latter group of patients and requires careful individual selection in the former group.     

Sonographic measurements of the neonatal thyroid gland

The purpose of this study was to establish the normal dimensions of the thyroid gland in euthyroid neonates. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the thyroid gland was performed in the first week of life in 68 term neonates whose gestational ages at birth were 37 to 41 weeks and whose birth weights ranged from 2570 to 4790 g. Measurements of the thyroid lobes were done in transverse, anteroposterior, and longitudinal planes. All neonates had age-appropriate thyroid stimulating hormone levels at birth. Mean +/- 2 standard deviations for thyroid volume were 472 mm3 and 1430 mm3. The mean measurements for the sum of both lobes for transverse, anteroposterior, and longitudinal dimensions were 13.9 mm, 15.1 mm, and 34.6 mm, respectively. No significant correlation of these measurements was found for gestational age, birth weight, or thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The correlation coefficient between these measurements and total volume was 0.64 or less. Term euthyroid neonates were found to have a thyroid gland volume ranging between 472 mm3 and 1430 mm3. In term neonates sonographic measurements of thyroid lobes should be obtained in all three planes for reliable assessment of thyroid volume.     

Sonographic characteristics of the cavum velum interpositum

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Differential considerations for pineal region CSF collections include both true cysts and normal cystlike anatomic variations. Our purpose was to determine the sonographic characteristics of pineal region fluid spaces that reflect the presence of a normal persistent cavum velum interpositum (CVI). METHODS: Eighteen neonates and infants who had sonographic findings of "cysts" in the pineal region were examined prospectively with conventional sonography and color Doppler sonography to evaluate the shape of the fluid collection and its anatomic relationship with the color-coded internal cerebral veins. Subsequent MR images were obtained in eight of these infants to determine the exact nature of the cystlike collections. RESULTS: The cystlike spaces in the pineal region were of an inverted helmet shape in 14 subjects and roundish in four. All were situated inferior or slightly anteroinferior to the splenium of the corpus callosum and 2.5 to 4 mm away from the quadrigeminal plate. The internal cerebral veins were either inferior (n = 12) or inferolateral (n = 6) to the cystlike spaces at sonography. Subsequent MR studies confirmed eight of these cystlike spaces to be the posterior portion of the CVI. CONCLUSION: The CVI may appear as a cyst in the pineal region on neonatal sonograms. Usually, it has a characteristic inverted helmet shape and is situated beneath the fornices and above the internal cerebral veins.     

Magnetic resonance angiography of the abdomen

The applications of abdominal MR angiography have been slow as compared with its applications in the head and neck mainly because of greater technical difficulties in dealing with respiratory motion and the use of the body coil, which has a poorer signal-to-noise ratio than head or surface coils. Further work is needed to reduce motion sensitivity and improve spatial resolution. Flow contrast and depiction of slowly flowing blood could be improved with the use of intravascular contrast agents. 52MR angiography is the imaging method of choice in the evaluation of the portal venous system, systemic veins, and aortic disease. With further technical improvements, it seems likely that applications of MR angiography will also be extended to smaller vessels.