3-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND EVALUATION OF FETAL TOOTH GERMS

Objective A total of 126 genetic syndromes are associated with oligodo ntia or anodontia. The most frequent of these are ectodermal dysplasia s, all types of facial cleft and Down's syndrome. With the advent of t hree-dimensional ultrasonography, accurate assessment of many fetal ab normalities has become possible. The objective of this study was to de termine the effectiveness of three-dimensional ultrasonography in the visualization of fetal tooth germs. Design We examined 45 women with s ingleton pregnancies between 16 and 36 gestational weeks who were unde rgoing routine ultrasound check-ups for fetal tooth germs with convent ional two-dimensional ultrasonography, followed by three-dimensional u ltrasonography using multiplanar reconstruction. Results In the 45 fet uses studied fetal tooth germs were visualized at the first attempt in 36 cases (80%). In the group of fetuses aged between 19 and 36 weeks of gestation, the overall detection rate in both jaws was at least 86% for three-dimensional ultrasonography, compared to at least 56% for t wo-dimensional ultrasonography. Conclusions Three-dimensional ultrason ography was clearly superior to conventional ultrasonography in the vi sualization and evaluation of fetal tooth germs. Three-dimensional ult rasonography therefore has a potential for enhanced visualization of f etal tooth germs and may aid in the antenatal detection of syndromes a ssociated with oligodontia or anodontia.