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Small or absent fetal stomach: prognostic significance
K M McKenna1, R B Goldstein, M D Stringer
1Department of Radiology, Mills-Peninsula Hospitals, San Mateo, Calif, USA.
Radiology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
A small or absent fetal stomach after 18 weeks gestation indicates a poor prognosis. This finding is linked to increased rates of abnormal outcomes and chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses.
Area of Science:
- Prenatal diagnosis
- Fetal medicine
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Fetal stomach abnormalities are rare but can indicate underlying developmental issues.
- Early identification of fetal anomalies is crucial for appropriate management and counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the outcomes of fetuses diagnosed with a small or absent stomach.
- To correlate fetal stomach size with gestational age, amniotic fluid volume, structural defects, and karyotype.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 87 fetal sonograms.
- Analysis of gestational age, amniotic fluid, stomach size, and morphologic defects.
- Correlation with clinical follow-up or autopsy findings.
Main Results:
- An absent stomach (n=27) had an 85% abnormal outcome rate; a small stomach (n=52) had a 52% abnormal outcome rate.
- Abnormal karyotypes were found in 38% of fetuses with an absent stomach versus 4% with a small stomach.
- Overall, 63% of fetuses with absent or small stomachs experienced abnormal outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Absent or small fetal stomach after 18 weeks gestation is associated with a guarded prognosis.
- These findings highlight the importance of thorough prenatal evaluation for suspected fetal stomach anomalies.