Prenatal Sonographic Abnormal Appearances of the Fetal Hyaloid Artery: From Normal Variants to Pathology

This is a case series on the abnormal sonographic appearance and outcome of the fetal hyaloid artery (HA) detected during between 1987 and 2015 at one medical center. Fifteen cases were detected during fetal anatomy scans, usually performed at 14 to 16 weeks' gestation. Three other cases were diagnosed following referral for a second opinion. In nine fetuses, the HA regressed normally throughout pregnancy. Of them, eight neonates had normal outcomes and one had cataract at the same eye. All nine other cases ended with adverse outcomes. Failure of the HA to regress in the third trimester appears to be an indicator of congenital blindness.