Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of the anterior abdominal wall abnormalities in omphalocele-exstrophy-imperforate anus-spinal defects complex

Abstract

Objective To Summarize the prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics of abdominal wall deformity in omphalocele-exstrophy-imperforate anus-spinal defects (OEIS). Methods The prenatal ultrasonic characteristics of anterior abdominal wall abnormalities in 46 fetuses with OEIS complex were retrospectively analyzed and compared with the autopsy examination results. Results The 46 fetuses with OEIS were confirmed by follow-up, among which 26 fetuses had detailed autopsy informations. The prenatal ultrasound performance of fetal abdominal wall malformation included absence bladder, low abdominal wall umbilical cord insertion, and lower abdominal wall bulging between the two legs. The bulgings were divided into 5 types according to the prenatal ultrasound characteristics: (1) Predominantly cystic bulging in the lower anterior abdominal wall in 12 fetuses. (2) The abdominal bulging under the umbilical with exstrophy in 22 fetuses, of which were ″elephant trunk-like″ in 13 fetuses. (3) The lower abdominal wall bulgings in the root of the umbilical cord in 6 fetuses. (4) Large gastroschisis malformation in 3 fetuses. (5) Omphalocele with exstrophy in 3 fetuses. Conclusions The prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics of abdominal wall deformity in OEIS complex are diverse and complex. The predominantly cystic bulging is the early prenatal sonographic characteristic of the OEIS syndrome and abdominal bulging under the umbilical with exstrophy is the most common prenatal ultrasonic characteristic of OEIS complex. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Fetal; Anterior abdominal wall; Abnormalities; Omphalocele-exstrophy-imperforate anus-spinal defects