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This article discusses a study that aims to demonstrate the scientific validity of a novel cell-based non-invasive prenatal testing (cbNIPT) method for detecting fetal copy number variants (CNVs) using single cell sequencing of circulating extravillous trophoblasts (cEVTs). The study enrolled 1388 high-risk pregnancies and found a screen positive rate of 18.9% for aneuploidies and 11.2% for pCNVs. The results showed that cbNIPT was able to detect pCNVs <1 Mb in size, which is below the resolution of cell-free DNA screening. The authors conclude that analyzing cEVTs from maternal blood could significantly reduce the residual risk for pCNVs in early gestational weeks. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: To describe ultrasound features of fetal ovarian cysts as reported by the original ultrasound examiner, to apply International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) terminology after retrospective analysis of the images and to describe patient management and evolution of fetal cysts during pregnancy and after delivery. Methods: This retrospective observational study included pregnant women diagnosed on ultrasound examination with a fetal ovarian cyst at the Prenatal Diagnosis Division of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, in Rome, between March 2011 and May 2020. Cysts were classified by the original ultrasound examiner as 'simple' (unilocular anechoic cyst) or 'complex' (cyst with other morphology). In addition, three ultrasound examiners, experienced in gynecologic ultrasound, classified retrospectively the fetal ovarian cysts according to IOTA terminology, by reviewing stored ultrasound images. The evolution of these fetal ovarian cysts during pregnancy and after birth was recorded. Results: Included were 51 ovarian cysts in 48 fetuses. Of the 51 cysts, 29 (56.9%) had been classified by the original ultrasound examiner as 'simple', and 22 (43.1%) as 'complex'. Of the simple cysts, the majority (20/29 (69.0%)) resolved spontaneously after delivery, 2/29 (6.9%) resolved following intrauterine aspiration, 2/29 (6.9%) resolved after postnatal aspiration and 5/29 (17.2%) underwent surgery due to persistence after delivery; in all five, normal ovarian parenchyma without signs of necrosis was observed at histology. Of the complex cysts, 7/22 (31.8%) resolved spontaneously. The other 15/22 (68.2%) were removed surgically and, at histology, necrosis was observed in most (12/15 (80.0%)), while a benign epithelial cyst with normal ovarian parenchyma was observed in 3/15 (20%). After reviewing the ultrasound images and applying IOTA terminology, all 51 (100%) fetal cysts were described as unilocular; 29/51 (56.9%) cysts showed anechoic content (described as simple cysts by the original ultrasound examiner), and 10/51 (19.6%) had low‐level, 1/51 (2.0%) had ground‐glass, 9/51 (17.6%) had hemorrhagic, 1/51 (2.0%) had mixed and 1/51 (2.0%) had undefined content (all described as complex by the original ultrasound examiner). Among the 29 anechoic ovarian cysts, resolution was observed in most (24/29, 82.8%) cases. Similarly, resolution was observed in 7/10 (70.0%) cysts with low‐level content. Resolution was not observed in any of the other 12 cysts and all of these cases underwent surgery, with evidence of necrosis being observed in 11 (91.7%). Conclusions: Applying IOTA terminology provided a more detailed and accurate description of fetal ovarian cysts compared with the original classification into 'simple' and 'complex' categories. Anechoic cysts (described as simple cysts by the original ultrasound examiner) and cysts with low‐level content (described as complex by the original ultrasound examiner) frequently resolved spontaneously. Cysts with ground‐glass, hemorrhagic, mixed or undefined content were frequently associated with necrosis at histology following surgery. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall, we observed 5 (3%) cystic fibrosis, 10 (5%) other genetic disorders, 13 (7%) congenital infections, 5 (3%) neonatal deaths, 12 (7%) intestinal anomalies, 24 (13%) other malformations, and 19 (10%) experienced IUGR. Fetal and neonatal demise, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), associated anomalies, genetic disorders (including cystic fibrosis) and congenital infection were evaluated. When persistent HB were present, an increase rate of congenital infection and bowel dilatation were observed (14% versus 4%; p = 0,03 and 52% versus 23%; p = 0,0007, respectively). [Extracted from the article]

Prenatal findings were present in 10/13 (77% patients) in Group A and in 2/8 (25%) patients in Group B (p 0.03). Thirteen patients were in group A (CC>3) and 8 in Group B CC < 3). [Extracted from the article]

It is reported that many infants with CDH have evidence of brain injury on postnatal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results HT

To describe ultrasound features of fetal ovarian cysts as reported by the original ultrasound examiner and according to IOTA terminology. Ovarian cysts with low level content could be managed expectantly, whereas ovarian cysts with other cyst content should be managed with postnatal surgery, due to the high risk of necrosis at final histology. [Extracted from the article]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Prenatal Diagnosis of Gollop: Wolfgang Complex" by I. Mendilcioglu et al. in the 2009 issue.

An abstract of the conference paper "Fetal cardiac function assessed by myocardial performance index in normal pregnancy," by A. Romiti and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the conference paper "Prenatal diagnosis and clinical management of congenital heart defects: the value of a multidisciplinary approach in a tertiary care center," by L. Caforio and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the conference paper "Interobserver repeatability of ultrasound 3D volume cervix in post-term pregnancies," by S. Triunfo and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the conference paper "Clinical and ultrasonographic management of post-term pregnancies: Experience of a third level center," by S. Triunfo and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Abnormal uterine Doppler velocimetry: Prenatal Doppler evaluation of very preterm fetuses and cerebral neonatal outcome," by L. Caforio and colleagues, is presented.