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This case report presents the first registered patient in Latvia with type 0 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). During the first-trimester ultrasonography of the unborn patient, an increased thickness of the nuchal fold was detected. The mother reported decreased foetal movements during the pregnancy. After the boy was born, his general condition was extremely severe. The clinical signs indicated a suspected neuromuscular disorder. A precise diagnosis, type 0 SMA, was determined 7 days after birth through a newborn pilot-screening for SMA, which was conducted for all newborns whose parents consented to participate. The condition of the infant deteriorated. He had severe respiratory distress followed by multiple events leading to his death. Currently, there are only a few published case reports detailing an increased nuchal translucency (NT) measurement in association with a diagnosis of SMA in the foetus. However, an increased NT measurement is a clinically relevant sign as it can be related to genetic syndromes, foetal malformations, disruptions, and dysplasias. Since there is no cure for infants with type 0 SMA at present, it is crucial to be able to detect this disease prenatally in order to provide the best possible care for the patient and parents. This includes the provision of palliative care for the patient, among other measures. This case report highlights the prenatal signs and symptoms in relation to type 0 SMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To determine the most common fetal ultrasound markers of total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) during mid-trimester ultrasound using standardly obtained images and evaluate the performance of diagnostic algorithms for improving prenatal diagnosis. Methods. This was a matched case-control study at a regional referral centre (2005 to 2019). Cases of TAPVR were matched to controls 1 : 4 by date of birth and biologic sex. Postprocessing review of stored fetal ultrasound images was performed by two blinded and independent observers in a standardized fashion using nine sonographic markers: (i) left/right heart disproportion; (ii) abnormal distribution of great vessels; (iii) pulmonary vein entry into the left atrium (LA); (iv) confluence behind the LA; (v) abnormal coronary sinus; (vi) absence of the Coumadin ridge; (vii) aortic diameter; (viii) distance between LA and aorta; and (ix) post-LA space index >1.27. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present results and compare cases and controls. Diagnostic algorithms were compared by sensitivity/specificity. Results. 21 cases of isolated TAPVR were matched to 84 controls (n = 105). The most common ultrasound marker of TAPVR was absence of pulmonary vein entry into the LA (42.9%), followed by abnormal Coumadin ridge (38.1%). Cases of TAPVR had significantly larger post-LA spaces than controls (p < 0.0001) and wider aortic diameters (p = 0.006). A diagnostic algorithm stratifying on absence of pulmonary veins followed by an abnormal Coumadin ridge, can correctly identify cases of TAPVR with high specificity (90.5%) and moderate sensitivity (61.9%). Conversely, a diagnostic algorithm using the presence of any 3 abnormal markers had improved specificity (94.1%) but poorer sensitivity (23.8%). Conclusions. Using standardly obtained images from routine fetal ultrasound, improved prenatal detection of isolated TAPVR is possible. A standardized diagnostic approach can be highly specific for fetal TAPVR, however, algorithms that are sufficiently sensitive for screening in the general population are still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The use of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal and genetic diseases has resulted in a significant improvement in the diagnosis of genetically caused congenital malformations, neurodevelopmental disorders, and congenital anomalies, with a high diagnostic yield in selected prenatal cases. Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of CMA in the prenatal diagnosis of high-risk pregnant women. Method. A total of 576 pregnancies were selected from May 2018 to October 2020 in our hospital, including amniotic fluid chromosome, karyotype analysis, and CMA detection. The study group was divided into two groups based on the indications for testing: group A has 88 patients at the age of 35 years or older, and group B patients were in high-risk pregnancies, which consisted of 33 cases of bad pregnancy history, 252 high-risk serological screenings, 70 high-risk non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), 65 cases of B-ultrasound indicated fetal development abnormalities or ultrasonic soft marker abnormalities, and 68 other cases of pregnant women or both who have genetic or chromosomal abnormalities. At last, we have an analysis of the detection rate from different testing methods. Results. Based on the follow-up test, 576 high-risk pregnant women showed an amniotic fluid chromosome karyotype rate of 18.1% (104/576), and the remaining 472 of these cases suffered a CNV ratio of 14.2% (67/472). 472 women of low clinical relevance are at 4.87% (23/472), 16 people showed a clear cause ratio = 3.39% (16/472), and 28 of the 472 (5.93%) cases showed polymorphism. Conclusions. In our study, CMA significantly improved the fetal detection rate and diagnosis rate in high-risk pregnant women, which proved to be a very useful method in the diagnosis of genetically caused neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital anomalies. The use of CMA in high-risk pregnant women is justified, and these women can detect an additional (3.40%, 16/472) of pathogenic microdeletions and microduplications in the cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of scanning magnetic resonance imaging in prenatal diagnosis, the application and research of placental implantation have been proposed. Placental implantation is a serious obstetric emergency, which refers to the abnormal attachment of placental villi caused by the dysplasia of decidual basal layer. A study from the United States showed that the incidence of placental implantation in pregnant women during delivery increased from 9.9/30000 to 11.6/20000 from 2006 to 2019, which increased the risk of prenatal or postpartum hemorrhage, hysterectomy, stillbirth, abdominal organ injury, and so on. Clinically, patients can show severe prenatal or postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum placental retention, uterine perforation, and secondary infection, which may seriously endanger the lives of pregnant mothers and fetuses. Placental implantation can also have no obvious symptoms before delivery, which leads to insufficient prenatal diagnosis. Gielchinsky retrospectively studied 410 patients with placental implantation and found that only 9 patients were detected by prenatal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the detection rate was only 6.6%. It can be seen that if the accurate diagnosis of placental implantation can be made before prenatal or symptoms appear, clinical intervention treatment can be carried out in time to reduce the probability of hysterectomy and improve the examination means of patients' prerecovery. At present, studies at home and abroad suggest that it has good clinical application value and research prospect in the clinical diagnosis of placental implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy number variations (CNVs) at the chromosomal 1q21.1 region represent a group of hot-spot recurrent rearrangements in human genome, which have been detected in hundreds of patients with variable clinical manifestations. Yet, report of such CNVs in prenatal scenario was relatively scattered. In this study, 17 prenatal cases involving the 1q21.1 microdeletion or duplication were recruited. The clinical survey and imaging examination were performed; and genetic detection with karyotyping and CNV analysis using chromosomal microarray (CMA) or CNVseq were subsequently carried out. These cases were all positive with 1q21.1 CNV, yet presented with exceedingly various clinical and utrasonographic indications. Among them, 12 pregnancies carried 1q21.1 deletions, while the other 5 carried 1q21.1 duplications, all of which were within the previously defined breaking point (BP) regions. According to the verification results, 9 CNVs were de novo, 7 were familial, and the other 1 was not certain. We summarized the clinical information of these cases, and the size and distribution of CNVs, and attempted to analyze the association between these two aspects. The findings in our study may provide important basis for the prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling on such conditions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy number variations (CNVs) at the chromosomal 1q21.1 region represent a group of hot-spot recurrent rearrangements in human genome, which have been detected in hundreds of patients with variable clinical manifestations. Yet, report of such CNVs in prenatal scenario was relatively scattered. In this study, 17 prenatal cases involving the 1q21.1 microdeletion or duplication were recruited. The clinical survey and imaging examination were performed; and genetic detection with karyotyping and CNV analysis using chromosomal microarray (CMA) or CNVseq were subsequently carried out. These cases were all positive with 1q21.1 CNV, yet presented with exceedingly various clinical and utrasonographic indications. Among them, 12 pregnancies carried 1q21.1 deletions, while the other 5 carried 1q21.1 duplications, all of which were within the previously defined breaking point (BP) regions. According to the verification results, 9 CNVs were de novo, 7 were familial, and the other 1 was not certain. We summarized the clinical information of these cases, and the size and distribution of CNVs, and attempted to analyze the association between these two aspects. The findings in our study may provide important basis for the prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling on such conditions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5% to 10% of newborns and is a major determinant of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Myocardial performance index (MPI), also known as the Tei index, is a useful, noninvasive, and Doppler-derived myocardial performance tool for fetal cardiac function evaluation. The purpose of the study is to evaluate ultrasonic prediction on FGR and postnatal outcomes using MPI and blood flow spectrum. Methods. This retrospective study included 240 pregnant women developing FGR and 240 healthy pregnant women. The blood flow spectrum of middle cerebral artery (MCA), umbilical artery (UA), and ductus venous including systolic to diastolic ratio (S/D), resistant index (RI), pulse index (PI), and peak ventricular systolic velocity/atrial contraction valley velocity (S/a) were examined using the GE Voluson E8 ultrasound system. Results. The MPI, S/D, RI, PI of UA, and S/a were all higher but S/D, RI, and PI of MCA were lower in the FGR group than those in the control group P < 0.001 . The MPI, S/D, RI, PI of UA, S/D, RI, PI of MCA, and ductus venous S/a yielded AUC of 0.813, 0.835, 0.791, 0.804, 0.789, 0.796, 0.803, and 0.784 when they were used to predict the incidence of FGR. Of note, the pregnant women with poor pregnancy outcomes exhibited higher values of MPI, S/D, RI, PI of UA, and S/a with lower scores of 1 min Apgar concomitant with lower values regarding S/D, RI, and PI of MCA than those with favorable pregnancy outcomes P < 0.001 . The MPI (r = −0.623), S/D (r = −0.660), RI (r = −0.601), PI (r = −630) of UA, and S/a (r = −0.573) shared negative correlations with 1 min Apgar scores P < 0.001 . Of note, the S/D (r = 0.562), RI (r = 0.597), and PI (r = 0.619) of MCA were positively correlated with 1 min Apgar scores P < 0.001 . It was revealed that the MPI, S/D, RI, PI of UA, S/D, RI, PI of MCA, and ductus venous S/a yielded AUC of 0.806, 0.833, 0.774, 0.788, 0.807, 0.729, 0.748, and 0.770 when they were used to predict the incidence of poor pregnancy outcomes for pregnant women developing FGR. Conclusion. Our study demonstrates good ultrasonic prediction on FGR and postnatal outcomes using MPI and blood flow spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy number variations (CNVs) at the chromosomal 1q21.1 region represent a group of hot-spot recurrent rearrangements in human genome, which have been detected in hundreds of patients with variable clinical manifestations. Yet, report of such CNVs in prenatal scenario was relatively scattered. In this study, 17 prenatal cases involving the 1q21.1 microdeletion or duplication were recruited. The clinical survey and imaging examination were performed; and genetic detection with karyotyping and CNV analysis using chromosomal microarray (CMA) or CNVseq were subsequently carried out. These cases were all positive with 1q21.1 CNV, yet presented with exceedingly various clinical and utrasonographic indications. Among them, 12 pregnancies carried 1q21.1 deletions, while the other 5 carried 1q21.1 duplications, all of which were within the previously defined breaking point (BP) regions. According to the verification results, 9 CNVs were de novo, 7 were familial, and the other 1 was not certain. We summarized the clinical information of these cases, and the size and distribution of CNVs, and attempted to analyze the association between these two aspects. The findings in our study may provide important basis for the prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling on such conditions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is some controversy about the value of fetal MRI in prenatal diagnosis, and most of the studies examine its accuracy in central nervous system (CNS) pathology. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and usefulness of fetal MRI in the prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) pathology and non-CNS pathology. Patients referred to the Radiology Department between 2007 and 2018 for a fetal MRI after detection of an anomaly in the fetal ultrasound, a high-risk pregnancy, or an inconclusive fetal ultrasound (n = 623) were included in the study. Postnatal diagnosis was used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of MRI. Fetal MRI was considered to provide additional information over fetal ultrasound when findings of the fetal MRI were not detected in the fetal ultrasound or when established a pathological condition that was not detected in the fetal ultrasound. Fetal MRI provided useful information for the perinatal management and prognosis over fetal ultrasound when findings of the fetal MRI changed the postnatal prognosis, leaded to the decision to legally terminate the pregnancy, changed prenatal or postnatal follow-up, or helped in the planning of prenatal or postnatal treatment. Fetal MRI offered an accurate diagnosis in 97% of cases (compared to 90.4% of fetal ultrasound; p < 0.001). Concordance between fetal ultrasound and fetal MRI was 92.1%. Fetal MRI provided additional information over fetal ultrasound in 23.1% of cases. In 11.6% of cases, the information was useful for the perinatal management and prognosis. In 45 cases (7.2%), fetal MRI was the only accurate diagnosis. In conclusion, fetal MRI has a superior diagnostic accuracy, especially in CNS pathology, and provides additional useful information in CNS, thoracic, and abdominal pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To assess the clinical value of prenatal diagnosis using quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for the examination of genomic imbalances in prenatal amniotic fluid samples from fetuses with a nuchal translucency (NT) greater than or equal to 2.5 mm. Materials and Methods. A total of 494 amniotic fluid samples and 5 chorionic villus samples were included in this study, with a fetal NT ≥ 2.5 mm at 11–13+6 weeks of gestation from November 2015 to December 2018. All cases were examined with QF-PCR, and those with normal QF-PCR results were then analyzed by CMA. Results. Of the 499 cases, common aneuploidies were detected by QF-PCR in 61 (12.2%) cases. One case of triploidy, one case of trisomy 21 mosaicism, and two cases of X/XX mosaicism were further confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Among the 434 cases with normal QF-PCR results, microarray detected additional pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) in 4.8% (21/434) of cases. Six cases would have been expected to be detectable by conventional karyotyping because of large deletions/duplications (>10 Mb), leaving fifteen (3.5%, 15/428) cases with pathogenic CNVs only detectable by CMA. Pathogenic CNVs, especially those <10 Mb, were centralized in cases with an NT < 4.5 mm, including 5 pathogenic CNVs in cases with an NT of 2.5–3.5 mm and 7 pathogenic CNVs in cases with an NT of 3.5–4.5 mm. Conclusions. It is rational to use a diagnostic strategy in which CMA is preceded by a less-expensive, rapid method, namely, QF-PCR, to detect common aneuploidies. CMA allows for the detection of a number of pathogenic chromosomal aberrations in fetuses with an NT ≥ 2.5 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 37-year-old (G4P3) woman was referred to our hospital at 32 weeks of gestation for the evaluation of a fetus with an intrathoracic cystic lesion. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that a fetal cystic lesion without a mucosal layer was located in the posterior mediastinum. These findings were consistent with a bronchogenic cyst. At 38 3/7 weeks of gestation, an elective cesarean section was performed because of her previous cesarean section. A female neonate without any external anomalies, weighing 2,442 g, with Apgar scores of 8 and 9, and requiring no resuscitation was born. Four weeks after delivery, the neonate was admitted because of respiratory distress due to mass effect. At right lateral thoracotomy, a 105 × 65 mm of solitary smooth-walled cyst containing serosanguineous fluid was found in the posterior mediastinum, which was excised completely. Histologic examination revealed the diagnosis of the mediastinal gastric duplication cyst. The neonate made an uneventful recovery. Accurate diagnosis is not necessary, but detection and continuous observation are logical. Although gastric duplication, particularly intrathoracic, is a rare pathology, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any intrathoracic cyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To diagnose and explore the genetic cause of Joubert syndrome (JS) in a fetus. Methods. Prenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed, and genetic analysis was conducted using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing. Results. Prenatal ultrasound and MRI examinations showed cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and molar tooth sign (MTS); hence the fetus was diagnosed with JS. Further genetic analysis revealed a known missense variant (c.3599C>T, p.A1200V) and a novel missense variant (c.3857G>A, p.R1286H) in the C5orf42 gene of the fetus. Conclusion. Our study provides insights into prenatal and early diagnosis of JS and expands the variation spectrum of C5orf42 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the perinatal and neonatal outcomes of patients who were diagnosed with neural tube defect (NTD) in the midtrimester fetal ultrasound scan and refused the request for termination of pregnancy. Material and Methods. The records of 69 patients, for whom NTD was detected in the midtrimester fetal ultrasound scan and who preferred the continuation of the pregnancy after comprehensive counselling about the possible prognosis and treatment options during the period between January 2011 and February 2016, were reviewed retrospectively. Results. Of these patients, 66.7% were 25–35 years old; 95.7% were multiparous; and 1.4% had a history of a fetus having NTD in previous pregnancies. There were 7 (10.1%) neonatal deaths in these patients. Meningomyelocele closure procedure was the most performed surgery in the postnatal period (92%). Of these patients, 30.7% had paraplegia; 51.6% had neurogenic bladder; and 6.4% had infections due to surgery. Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrated perinatal and neonatal outcomes of fetuses with NTD who were not terminated by the preference of the family in midtrimester. The experience of our centre would be beneficial as a tool for nondirective counselling of these patients when considering the antenatal/postnatal care options and postnatal prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meconium periorchitis is a rare disorder caused by fetal meconium peritonitis, with subsequent passage of meconium into the scrotum via a patent processus vaginalis. To date, clinical significance of meconium periorchitis for the prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis and prediction for postnatal surgery remains to be determined. We present a clinical course of a fetus presenting with meconium periorchitis induced by meconium peritonitis. At 28 weeks’ gestation, fetal ultrasonography indicated fetal ascites associated with bilateral hydrocele and peritesticular calcification without other signs of meconium peritonitis. The pregnancy was uneventful until delivery and the infant was delivered at 37 weeks’ gestation. No abdominal distension was observed at birth, and radiography did not reveal any abdominal calcification except for scrotal calcification. Abdominal distension was observed 3 days after birth and laparotomy was performed. The diagnosis of meconium peritonitis was confirmed at surgery. Our case illustrated that careful examination of the scrotum during fetal life was helpful for prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis as well as postnatal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]