PRENATAL ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS - A REVIEW OF FETAL-OUTCOME

Prenatal ultrasound is a very useful investigation to alert the clinic ian and parents to a potential fetal anomaly and permit appropriate ma nagement. In this retrospective series 196 fetal anomalies were identi fied by ultrasound. In 100 cases the diagnosis was confirmed and compl ete; in 37 the diagnosis was confirmed but there were additional signi ficant pathological features; in 19 the diagnosis was confirmed but th ere were additional pathological features of academic interest only; i n 16 there were transient prenatal ultrasound features but the baby wa s normal at birth; and in 21 the anomaly was not confirmed by patholog ical examination or records of live births were incomplete. Overall, t he commonest anomalies were those affecting the central nervous system (35%), genitourinary system (18%), and gastro-intestinal tract (12%). Prior knowledge of anomalies both influenced surgical management and enabled the mother to be appropriately counselled.