Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of fetal abnormalies of the inferior vena cava

Abstract

Objective To explore the value of prenatal ultrasound in diagnosis of fetal anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and to improve the prenatal detection rate. Methods Fourteen cases of fetal anomalies of IVC examined by prenatal ultrasound from June 2013 to April 2016 in our hospital were analyzed, the prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics through abdominal transverse, coronal and IVC long axis were summarized, and were compared with the autopsy results. Results In 14 cases of anomalies of IVC, 12 cases were isolated IVC interruption, and 2 cases were high confluence of IVC. In 12 cases of isolated IVC interruption, 9 cases compicated by left isomerism, 1 case complicated by sistus inversus viscerum, 1 case complicated by isolated IVC interruption; 2 cases of high confluence of IVC were combined with multiple malformations, including 1 case of chromosome 18-trisomy syndrome.Thirteen cases were confirmed by pathology, and 1 case of the high confluence of IVC lost follow-up. Conclusions Fetal anomalies of IVC have characteristic manifestations in prenatal ultrasonographic. When detecting the IVC interruption, left isomerism should be highly suspected. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Fetus; Abnormalies of the inferior vena cava