The application of prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of congenital duodenal obstruction

Chan Yin,Zhihui Fei,Mingxiang Ma,Xiaoqun Tan,Guoliang Luo,Dan Nie,Lili Tong

doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03078-5

Chan Yin, Zhihui Fei + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03078-5

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Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this research is to summarize the prenatal ultrasound characteristics of congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO), especially in the diagnosis of duodenal diaphragm and annular pancreas. At present, few researchers have summarized the specific ultrasound features of duodenal diaphragm and annular pancreas.MethodsIn this study, a retrospective analysis of 40 patients diagnosed with CDO between January 2016 and December 2019 was carried out. Data on the diagnosis, ultrasound images and outcomes of the patients were gathered, and the features of the patients were analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that there were 17 patients (42.5%) of congenital duodenal diaphragm, all with a ‘rat tail’ sign on the ultrasound images. Moreover, there were 4 patients (10.0%) of CDO caused by annular pancreas, all with a ‘pliers’ sign on the ultrasound images. We summarized the imaging features of the ‘rat tail’ sign and the ‘pliers’ sign.ConclusionThe main conclusion of this study was that the ‘rat tail’ sign could be used as an indirect ultrasound feature to diagnose duodenal diaphragm. The ‘pliers’ sign could be used as a direct ultrasound feature in the diagnosis of annular pancreas in CDO.

Highlights

The purpose of this research is to summarize the prenatal ultrasound characteristics of congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO), especially in the diagnosis of duodenal diaphragm and annular pancreas
Most of the exogenous factors are caused by annular pancreas, duodenal network, volvulus, malrotation of the small intestine, intestinal atresia, rare duodenal duplication or anterior
The purpose of this study is to improve the diagnostic value of prenatal ultrasound for CDO through the features of the ‘rat tail’ sign and the ‘pliers’ sign

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this research is to summarize the prenatal ultrasound characteristics of congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO), especially in the diagnosis of duodenal diaphragm and annular pancreas. Few researchers have summarized the specific ultrasound features of duodenal diaphragm and annular pancreas. Congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) is a common congenital malformation of the digestive tract with an incidence rate of approximately 1/2500–1/10000 [1, 2] and is caused by endogenous and exogenous factors. Most of the exogenous factors are caused by annular pancreas, duodenal network, volvulus, malrotation of the small intestine, intestinal atresia, rare duodenal duplication or anterior. Previous studies have shown that early diagnosis and surgery can reduce the incidence of metabolic disorders, duodenal obstruction and intestinal failure [1, 7].

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