Prenatal detection of intraamniotic bands: implications and management

The prenatal diagnosis of intraamniotic bands with confirmation at delivery is presented, and the pertinent literature is reviewed. The significance of intrauterine membranes or bands detected during pregnancy is not known. Direct fetal involvement by these structures has been reported in only one instance, but malformations apparently unrelated to amniotic bands have been common among reported cases. Serial ultrasound examinations are recommended both to exclude pseudosac, extrachorionic hemorrhage, blighted twin, and other possible causes of membranous structures and to search for fetal abnormalities.