Value of fetal autopsy after medical termination of pregnancy

Forensic Science International : Synergy
M D Piercecchi-MartiJ F Pellissier

Abstract

We carried out a retrospective study of 352 medical terminations of pregnancy (MTP) carried out in a large French administrative region over two consecutive years. We analysed the indications for MTP and then compared the prenatal ultrasound diagnosis with fetal autopsy findings in order to demonstrate the value of pathological examination of the fetus in prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling as well as the need to check by autopsy the quality of ultrasound screening. Preliminary analysis of the indication for these MTP showed that in 69.9% ultrasound screening had been carried out, revealing mainly brain abnormalities (22.2%) and heart defects generally associated with chromosomal abnormalities (32.1%). Prenatal findings were in agreement with autopsy results, showing no false-positive prenatal diagnoses. However, in 7.9% of cases in which brain abnormalities were detected, confirmation was not possible at autopsy because of tissue autolysis, showing the need for optimal conditions of expulsion. In 35.8% of cases, confirmation of the diagnosis by autopsy was not useful for management but still added to medical knowledge and demonstrated to the mother the reality of the defects. In 50.9%, the autopsy findings were decisive...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 15, 2005·Prenatal Diagnosis
Jan 11, 2008·Journal of Perinatal Medicine·Per AntonssonNikos Papadogiannakis
Jun 19, 2007·Pathology, Research and Practice·Csaba PappZoltán Papp
Mar 13, 2015·Prenatal Diagnosis·Shalini S NayakKatta M Girisha
Jun 9, 2015·Clinical Radiology·O J ArthursUNKNOWN Magnetic Resonance Imaging Autopsy Study (MaRIAS) Collaborative Group
Aug 30, 2011·American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·Laurence GitzVassilis Tsatsaris
Jul 12, 2019·The Journal of Maternal-fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians·Xin KangJacques C Jani
Dec 22, 2006·Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine : Official Journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine·Zsanett SzigetiCsaba Papp
Jun 6, 2018·Insights Into Imaging·Aurélie D'HondtE Fred Avni

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