Human Reproduction, Vol 12, 1800-1804, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
T Hata, S Aoki, A Manabe, K Hata and K Miyazaki
Our purpose was to visualize normal embryonal and fetal surface anatomical
structures in the first trimester of human pregnancy by use of
three-dimensional ultrasonography with a specially developed abdominal
three-dimensional transducer. Four embryos and 31 fetuses of 8-13 weeks
gestation were studied with a specially-developed abdominal
three-dimensional transducer (3.5 MHz). This imaging system can provide
conventional two-dimensional ultrasonography images and can also generate,
within seconds, high-quality three-dimensional images in the surface and
transparent mode with no need for an external workstation. The percentage
of surface anatomical structures visualized at each gestational age
interval using two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography is
presented. Head and trunk were depicted in all cases. The number and the
clarity of visualization of face, upper and lower extremities, hand, and
foot increased with advancing gestation. The free loop of the umbilical
cord was depicted in most cases. The number of depictions of abdominal cord
insertion, midgut herniation, and yolk sac decreased with the increase of
gestation. Genitals could not be identified in the first trimester. The
ability to view some surface anatomical structures (face, hand, and foot)
was better with three-dimensional ultrasonography than with two-dimensional
ultrasonography. Three-dimensional ultrasonography provides a novel means
for visualization of surface anatomical structures of the embryo and early
fetus. These results suggest that three-dimensional ultrasonography can
become an important modality in future embryological and early fetal
research and in detection of embryonic and fetal developmental disorders in
the first trimester of pregnancy.
ARTICLES
Three-dimensional ultrasonography in the first trimester of human pregnancy
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  G. Tonni, D. Azzoni, G. Centini, and A. Ventura Correlation Between 3D Transvaginal First-Trimester Neuroimaging and Embryonic Development According to Carnegie Stadiation Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, July 1, 2008; 24(4): 207 - 215. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. F. Goncalves, W. Lee, J. Espinoza, and R. Romero Three- and 4-Dimensional Ultrasound in Obstetric Practice: Does It Help? J. Ultrasound Med., December 1, 2005; 24(12): 1599 - 1624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Kuno, Y. Hayashi, M. Akiyama, C. Yamashiro, H. Tanaka, T. Yanagihara, and T. Hata Three-dimensional Sonographic Measurement of Liver Volume in the Small-for-Gestational-Age Fetus J. Ultrasound Med., April 1, 2002; 21(4): 361 - 366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Matsumoto, T. Yanagihara, and T. Hata Three-dimensional qualitative sonographic evaluation of fetal soft tissue Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2000; 15(11): 2438 - 2442. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Hata, T. Yanagihara, K. Hayashi, C. Yamashiro, Y. Ohnishi, M. Akiyama, A. Manabe, and K. Miyazaki Three-dimensional ultrasonographic evaluation of ovarian tumours: a preliminary study Hum. Reprod., March 1, 1999; 14(3): 858 - 862. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|