1. Advancements in ultrasound assessment of fetal genitalia for accurate diagnosis and comprehensive counseling.
- Author
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Bohîlţea, Roxana-Elena and Durdu, Cristiana-Elena
- Subjects
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FETAL ultrasonic imaging , *GENITALIA , *CELL-free DNA , *SEX determination , *TRANSVAGINAL ultrasonography - Abstract
Advancements in ultrasound technology and the integration of cell free DNA testing into standard prenatal screening services have made it feasible to identify fetal sex at an early stage. Fetal sex determination through sonography relies on different factors depending on the gestational stage. In the late second trimester, it is determined by directly visualizing the external genitalia. However, in the late first and early second trimester, it primarily relies on the direction of the genital tubercle, known as the “sagittal sign”. Other sonographic land marks, like the fetal scrotum, midlineraphe of the penis, labial lines, uterus, descended testis and the direction/ origin of the fetal micturitionjet in males, can aid in the accurate fetal sex determination. However, malformed external genitalia can lead to inaccurate results. This article focuses on the sonographic determination of fetal sex during the late first trimester, early second trimester and late second trimester, using both transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound techniques. Additionally, we explore various elements that have contributed to the accuracy of fetal sex determination. While ultrasound examination of the external genitalia is typically sufficient, there are certain situations where it becomes crucial to identify the internal genitalia for precise prenatal diagnosis and thorough counseling. This paper aims to review these situations in which the evaluation of the internal genital organs is necessary, as well as the ways in which ultrasound can be used in the diagnosis of genital malformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023