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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Murine Fetal Echocardiography
08:04

Murine Fetal Echocardiography

Published on: February 15, 2013

Sonographic evaluation of the fetal stomach: significance of nonvisualization

D H Pretorius1, B B Gosink, T Clautice-Engle

  • 1Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego Medical Center 92103.

The stomach was successfully visualized in 1051 (98%) of 1071 consecutive sonograms obtained in 995 fetuses after 14 weeks gestational age. All patients were studied prospectively. Stomach nonvisualization was associated with an abnormal outcome in 55% of the fetuses studied after 14 weeks and in 100% of the fetuses studied after 19 weeks. Fetal abnormalities included gastrointestinal and CNS malformations. Oligohydramnios was often present. The absence of a stomach on fetal sonograms obtained after 14 weeks gestational age strongly suggests fetal abnormality. Repeat sonograms should be obtained in all such cases.

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