| Affiliation: | 1. Departments of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75235, U.S.A.;2. Departments of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75235, U.S.A.;3. Departments of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75235, U.S.A. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75235, U.S.A.;4. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75235, U.S.A. |
| Abstract: | In utero sonographic diagnoses from forty-five malformed infants were correlated with their autopsy findings. Fifty-two malformations were diagnosed prenatally in 42 of the patients but 90 additional malformations were not. Nine sonographically diagnosed abnormalities were not confirmed at autopsy. Factors compromising sonographic diagnosis included: limited examinations, small fetal size, timing of examination, oligohydramnios, fetal position, nature of the malformation and unfamiliarity of the ultrasonographer with specific malformation syndromes. In vitro ultrasonography is an invaluable tool of diagnosing congenital malformations but has limitations. |
