Hata T, Yonehara T, Aoki S, Manabe A, Hata K, Miyazaki K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998 Feb;170(2):481-3. doi: 10.2214/ajr.170.2.9456969.
This study was done to show the potential of using three dimensional (3D) sonography to reveal fetal facial anomalies.
Ninety-four healthy fetuses from 15 to 40 weeks' gestation were studied with a specially developed 3.5-MHz abdominal 3D transducer. This imaging system provided conventional two-dimensional (2D) sonographic images and also generated within seconds high-quality 3D images in the surface and transparent modes with no need for an external workstation.
Using this imaging system, we obtained 2D and 3D images of fetal faces (forehead, eyes, nose, lips, and chin) at six gestational ages. At less than 24 weeks' gestation, 65% of facial structures were visualized. The image quality was slightly degraded because of the small fetal size. At or after 24 weeks' gestation, 84% of facial structures were revealed. We found no significant difference in image quality of the fetal face between 2D and 3D sonography.
The new 3D sonographic technology can generate within seconds high-quality 3D images of the fetal face. The 3D technology seems to perform at least as well as conventional 2D sonography. Our results suggest that 3D sonography has the potential to supplement 2D sonography and might be useful in identifying malformations of the fetal face and chromosomal abnormalities in utero.
本研究旨在展示使用三维（3D）超声检查揭示胎儿面部异常的潜力。
使用专门研发的3.5兆赫腹部3D探头对94例孕15至40周的健康胎儿进行研究。该成像系统可提供传统二维（2D）超声图像，且无需外部工作站，在数秒内即可生成表面模式和透明模式下的高质量3D图像。
使用该成像系统，我们在六个孕周获取了胎儿面部（额头、眼睛、鼻子、嘴唇和下巴）的2D和3D图像。孕24周前，65%的面部结构可被观察到。由于胎儿体型较小，图像质量略有下降。孕24周及以后，84%的面部结构可被显示。我们发现2D和3D超声检查在胎儿面部图像质量上无显著差异。
新的3D超声技术可在数秒内生成高质量的胎儿面部3D图像。3D技术似乎至少与传统2D超声检查效果相当。我们的结果表明，3D超声检查有潜力补充2D超声检查，可能有助于识别胎儿面部畸形和子宫内染色体异常。
