Fetal autopsy: a review of recent developments

European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
C TennstedtM Dietel

Abstract

To analyze recent changes in fetal autopsy in response to developments in prenatal medicine. During the period 1988 through 1997, 783 fetuses (75% induced abortions, 18% spontaneous abortions, and 7% stillbirths, all between the 12th and 40th week of gestation) with prenatally diagnosed congenital malformations and chromosomal aberrations were analyzed. We divided the autopsies into two periods: period A (1988-92, n=370) and period B (1993-97, n=413). All fetuses were analyzed before completion of 20 weeks of gestation. The malformations of the organ systems were presented according to their frequency for fetuses independent of the weeks of gestation. An autopsy was performed prior to the completion of 20 weeks of gestation for 24% of the fetuses in period A and 45% in period B (P<0.0001). The number of diagnosed congenital heart malformations increased from 16% in period A to 23% in period B. The number of congenital heart malformations before completion of 20 weeks of gestation was only 21% in period A as compared to 42% in period B. In period B, clinical questions were raised in a more concrete form and ultrasound images gave more detailed information than in period A. Access to prenatal findings prior to postmortem examinat...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1992·American Journal of Perinatology·M BronshteinE Z Zimmer
Apr 1, 1992·Pathology·H M Chambers
Mar 1, 1994·Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy·R ChaouiC Tennstedt
Mar 1, 1997·Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·R ChaouiR Bollmann
Mar 20, 1998·American Journal of Reproductive Immunology : AJRI·D K Kalousek
Sep 1, 1993·Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·U GembruchM Hansmann

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 22, 2002·Prenatal Diagnosis
Jun 2, 2007·Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics·Giovanni ZanconatoMassimo Franchi
Sep 29, 2011·Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·C VogtS H Eik-Nes
Nov 16, 2007·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part a·Anna LauryJohn M Graham
Nov 17, 2005·Physiology·Katherine E YutzeyJeffrey Robbins
Jul 2, 2019·Pediatric and Developmental Pathology : the Official Journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society·Camilla StruksnæsChristina Vogt

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Birth Defects

Birth defects encompass structural and functional alterations that occur during embryonic or fetal development and are present since birth. The cause may be genetic, environmental or unknown and can result in physical and/or mental impairment. Here is the latest research on birth defects.

Related Papers

Duodecim; lääketieteellinen aikakauskirja
J Rapola
Mayo Clinic Proceedings
C S Landefeld, L Goldman
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
R B Hill, R E Anderson
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved