AREAS OF INCREASED ECHOGENICITY IN THE FETAL ABDOMEN - DIAGNOSIS AND SIGNIFICANCE

Areas of increased echogenicity in the fetal abdomen are defined as ab normally bright areas with an echogenicity similar to that of surround ing bones. Such areas are encountered in various normal and abnormal p rocesses. When increased echogenicity is discovered in the fetal abdom en, a careful search should be made for a potential cause. The causes to be considered depend on the location of the areas of increased echo genicity, which can be classified as intestinal, peritoneal, hepatic, retroperitoneal, and parietal. In each case, vascular, ischemic, infec tious, tumoral, metabolic, and chromosomal abnormalities should be inc luded in the differential diagnosis before considering the finding a n ormal variant. Therefore, in utero detection of fetal abdominal areas of increased echogenicity requires a complete sonographic survey of th e fetus and placenta along with close sonographic follow-up, evaluatio n of familial factors, and testing for possible associated cystic fibr osis, infection, or a chromosomal anomaly. The prognosis depends more on the underlying disease than on the extent of the increased echogeni city.