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Sonography of normal fetal bowel
1Department of Radiology, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Summary
Normal fetal bowel sonography reveals key size and motility characteristics. Understanding these normal findings helps differentiate from potential fetal gastrointestinal pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Fetal Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Fetal bowel visualization during ultrasound is common.
- Establishing sonographic norms for fetal bowel is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively characterize the sonographic appearance of normal fetal small bowel and colon.
- To define normative measurements and observable features of fetal bowel development.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study.
- Sonographic examination of 300 fetuses.
- Detailed assessment of small bowel and colon diameter, peristalsis, and echogenicity.
Main Results:
- Fetal bowel lumen diameter increases with gestational age (small bowel ≤6 mm, colon ≤23 mm).
- Small bowel peristalsis increases with gestation; colon peristalsis is absent.
- Haustral folds are common in the colon; meconium is hypoechoic.
- Potential mimics of pathology include early hyperechoic small bowel and later cystic colon.
Conclusions:
- Sonographic findings of normal fetal bowel are well-defined.
- Knowledge of these norms aids in differentiating normal development from congenital anomalies.
- Normal umbilical cord herniation is observed in early gestation (8-11 weeks).