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Fetal liver calcifications: sonographic appearance and postnatal outcome
B Stein1, B Bromley, H Michlewitz
1Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
Purpose:
To determine the importance of intrahepatic calcifications seen sonographically in the fetus.
Materials And Methods:
The authors retrospectively reviewed sonograms obtained in fetuses scanned between 16 and 40 gestational weeks in whom intrahepatic calcifications were seen. The number and character of these calcifications were determined. Follow-up scans obtained in utero and after birth were also reviewed. Outcome was determined after birth.
Results:
Thirty-three fetuses had intrahepatic calcifications at 16-38 weeks gestation. Four of the 33 fetuses died, one of which had liver calcifications as the only sonographic finding. This fetus had cytomegalovirus and was the only fetus with increasing numbers of calcifications on follow-up scans. All fetuses with isolated liver calcifications had a normal postnatal outcome (96% survival rate for fetuses with isolated intrahepatic calcifications). Of eight fetuses with additional anomalies, five lived; only two were healthy newborns.
Conclusion:
The outcome in fetuses with isolated intrahepatic calcifications is usually excellent, although viral causes must be excluded if additional findings appear.