ENLARGED FETAL GALLBLADDER - PROGNOSTIC IMPORTANCE FOR ANEUPLOIDY OR BILIARY ABNORMALITY AT ANTENATAL US

To test the strength of the association of cholecystomegaly with and b iliary abnormality and to assess the prognostic importance of the an e nlarged fetal gallbladder at antenatal ultrasonography (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gallbladder size was prospectively evaluated during 842 consecutive second- and third-trimester US examinations in 775 fetuses . The area of the gallbladder was calculated on the image that depicte d the maximal gallbladder size, and the actual gallbladder area was co mpared with the gallbladder area expected on the basis of the gestatio nal age. Fetuses with an enlarged gallbladder were followed up. RESULT S: Forty-three fetuses had an enlarged gallbladder (area more than 2 S Ds the mean for gestational age). Outcome was normal in 38 of the 39 f etuses who could be followed up. With the exception of a single baby w ith an isolated ventricular septal defect,which closed spontaneously, none of the babies with an enlarged fetal gallbladder had structural a natomic defects or evidence of aneuploidy or a biliary tract abnormali ty. CONCLUSION: Identification of an enlarged gallbladder at antenatal US does not to be associated with a substantially increased risk of c hromosomal aneuploidy or biliary tract malformation.