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Introduction. Cervical incompetence (cervical insufficiency) is the inability of the uterine cervix to retain a pregnancy in the absence of uterine contractions. It typically presents as acute, painless dilatation of the cervix, which can lead to a midtrimester pregnancy loss. Transvaginal ultrasound can be used as a diagnostic tool and to monitor cervical changes in cases of cervical incompetence. Materials and method. We have searched the literature on articles published on this aspect on PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane, by using the following keywords: “cervical incompetence”, “cervical shortening”, “ultrasound measurements”. We found that some of the ultrasound aspects used in the evaluation of cervical incompetence are: cervical length measurement, funneling assessment and bulging of the fetal membranes into a widened internal os. Conclusions. Cervical shortening is a prognostic indicator for the risk of preterm labor progressing into preterm delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Cervical incompetence (cervical insufficiency) is the inability of the uterine cervix to retain a pregnancy in the absence of uterine contractions. It typically presents as acute, painless dilatation of the cervix, which can lead to a midtrimester pregnancy loss. Transvaginal ultrasound can be used as a diagnostic tool and to monitor cervical changes in cases of cervical in competence. Materials and method. We have searched the literature on articles published on this aspect on PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane, by using the following keywords: “cervical incompetence”, “cervical shortening”, “ultrasound measurements”. We found that some of the ultrasound aspects used in the evaluation of cervical incompetence are: cervical length measurement, funneling assessment and bulging of the fetal membranes into a widened internalos. Conclusions. Cervical shortening is a prognostic indicator for the risk of preterm labor progressing into preterm delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary incontinence (UI) represents a condition that, although not vital, has a significant impact that can interfere with the quality of life in a meaningful way for many women, its overall prevalence being of approximately 40%. Since 1920, urogynecologists showed an increasing interest in imaging techniques of the pelvic floor, ultrasound being the method of examination most frequently used with benefits that result from easy accessibility and reduced costs. At the beginning, B-mode ultrasound via transvaginal or transperineal route, was used to describe the urinary bladder and the anterior compartment and only later, the other pelvic compartments. Pelvic floor dysfunctions include several conditions among which UI. The main indications for transperineal ultrasound are: recurrent urinary tract infections, urgency-, frequency-, stress-UI, dysuria, prolapse of pelvic organs, dyspareunia, fecal incontinence, pelvic masses. This method proves its utility in assessing parameters like: residual urine, detrusor wall thickness, mobility of the bladder neck, anterior and posterior urethrovesical angle, urethral integrity. Stress UI may be highlighted by Color Doppler. Studying the pelvic floor during contractions or Valsalva maneuvre allows the assessment of the functional anatomy, keypoint for understanding the UI pathophysiology. The assessment of these specific objective and reproducible parameters is complementary to the diagnosis of UI and puts several therapeutic options in a different light. The progress in imaging permanently contributes to the improvement of therapeutic management either refining existing techniques or supporting the development of new procedures in urogynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacular evolution of the ultrasound equipment and techniques has allowed the assessment of the fetal heart increasingly earlier during the gestation, as well as the diagnosis of the fetal abnormalities in the first trimester of pregnancy. Transvaginal ultrasound and transabdominal ultrasound are used in early fetal echocardigraphy. Studies have shown that the heart defects diagnosed early in gestation are more complex and have a high degree of association with chromosomal abnormalities, compared to those diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy. There are many studies on the correlation between the increase in the nuchal translucency (NT) and congenital heart defects, NT being one of the most frequently studied and efficient screening parameters in maternal-fetal medicine. The morphology of the umbilical cord can be assessed in the first trimester of pregnancy by colour Doppler examination. Numerous anomalies associated with single umbilical artery are described. The principles of fetal echocardiography in the first trimester are similar to those of the morphological examination in the second trimester of pregnancy, with certain peculiarities and differences. The complete examination of the fetal heart, with minimal false results, can be done under the conditions of a trained and experienced examiner within the range of 12-13 gestational weeks. The examination route must be adapted to the particularities of the case. Early fetal echocardigraphy should be recommended only in the presence of a precise medical indication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Cervical-facial fetal tumors are an entity. Head and neck tumors are able to influence the vital prognosis at postnatal birth due to respiratory obstruction. The teratoma is most commonly seen in the neonatal solid, but only about 5% of the teratomas are located in the cervical-facial region. Early ultrasound imaging is the gold standard for the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities, while prenatal 3D ultrasound and prenatal nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are complementary tools to establish a more accurate diagnosis. Methodology. We present a clinical case of prenatalversus- nasal suspected pathology, predominantly on the right side of the face, diagnosed by ultrasound at 26 weeks and 6 days of gestation. In addition to 2D and 4D ultrasound, the patient was referred to a reference hospital, where a fetal MRI was performed. The presumptive diagnosis was teratoma and fibrochondroma, tumors that can be solitary associated with one of the PAI or Goldenhar syndromes, but without a morphological facial argument for one of these syndromes. Postnatally, the established diagnosis was teratoma/nasal dermoid, with intrathermoid extension. During the postnatal period, the option of performing the surgical section of the tumor was discussed and adopted by a multidisciplinary team. The histopathological examination confirmed our suspicion and had the objective of a maturated frontonasal teratoma. Conclusions. The clinical significance of these births comes from the postnatal complications that they can cause, due to the over-the-air birth effects of the newborn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]