The above ultrasound images show a coronal section of the normal fetal face (at 14 weeks gestation), with the fetal eyeballs visualized. The fetal lens of the eyes are visualized as minute echogenic rings in the orbit. Real time sonography would show the fetal lens as moving with fetal eyeball movements. Observing the fetal lens is a sure way of confirming the presence of the eyeballs.
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This fetus is 21 weeks gestational age. The presence of the lens rules out anopthalmia (absence of the eyeballs).
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These images reveal isolated cleft lip anomaly. The first ultrasound image is a B-mode coronal section through the face. The cleft is seen well. The image on the right uses 3-D sonography reveals the cleft by surface rendering. The follow up (post-natal) snap of the baby confirms these findings. Images courtesy of Dr. Martin Horenstein, Argentina.
This late 2nd trimester fetus underwent routine obstetric sonography. Ultrasound imaging showed hypotelorism (both orbits are very close to each other), a small fleshy projection above the eyes in the region of the forehead (proboscis), holoprosencephaly (single fused monoventricle) and cardiac anomaly (over riding of aorta). The presence of hypotelorism and proboscis is called ethmocephaly. Holoprosencephaly, especially the severe form, (alobar) is often associated with multiple facial anomalies of this nature. The prognosis, in this fetus is very bleak. Trisomy-13 and Trisomy-18 are the common chromosomal disorders found in such cases. Ultrasound images are courtesy of Dr. Durr-e- Sabih, Pakistan. These images were taken using a Toshiba Nemio-30 Ultrasound system. (OR= Orbits)
Reference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/409265-overview (free article and images).
The above ultrasound images show a 16 week fetus with a septate cystic mass in the posterior and lateral aspect of the fetal neck. Color Doppler image shows that this mass is not the cord or part of it. The cystic tumor is almost 7 x 4 cms. in size. The fetal head shows evidence of mild scalp edema (early fetal hydrops). The fetal spine and calvarium show no bony defects, thus ruling out the possibility of fetal meningocele or myelo-meningocele, encephalocele etc. This ultrasound picture is a typical appearance of cystic hygroma. The ultrasound findings of large size of the cyst, septae and posterior location suggest poor prognosis for this fetus. Images are courtesy of Dr. Vikas Shukla, MD, India.
References: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/402757-overview
This 34 week fetus is seen sucking its thumb in these 3D ultrasound images.
