Prenatal sonographic chest and lung measurements for predicting severe pulmonary hypoplasia

• Published in: Prenatal diagnosis Vol. 19; no. 7; pp. 614 - 619
• Main Authors: Merz, Eberhard, Miric-Tesanic, Danka, Bahlmann, Franz, Weber, Gerald, Hallermann, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.07.1999; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bone Diseases, Developmental - complications; Female; Fetal Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Gestational Age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hernia, Diaphragmatic - complications; Humans; Hydrothorax - complications; Kidney - abnormalities; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - embryology; Lung - pathology; lung diameter (LD); Lung Diseases - complications; Lung Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Management. Prenatal diagnosis; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Prospective Studies; pulmonary hypoplasia (PH); ratio LD/TC; sagittal thoracic diameter (TSD); thoracic circumference (TC); Thorax - diagnostic imaging; Thorax - embryology; transverse thoracic diameter (TTD); Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Sonography; Human; Hypoplasia; Lung disease; Pregnancy disorders; Respiratory disease; Lung; Corporal biometry; Thorax; Growth curve; Prenatal; Fetal diseases; Nomograms; Echography; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0197-3851; 1097-0223
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0223(199907)19:7<614::AID-PD595>3.0.CO;2-P

Pulmonary hypoplasia was diagnosed sonographically in 32 fetuses from 20 to 33 weeks of gestation. In addition to standard biometry, transverse thoracic diameter (TTD), sagittal thoracic diameter (TSD), thoracic circumference (TC) and lung diameter (LD) were measured in all cases and compared with known nomograms. The fetuses were divided into five groups according to the main sonographic findings: group 1—skeletal dysplasia; group 2—renal agenesis; group 3—diaphragmatic hernia; group 4—hydrothorax; and group 5—others. Severe pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) was diagnosed prenatally in all cases on the basis of LD measurements. In 17 (53.1 per cent) out of 32 cases TTD was below the 5th percentile while lower TSD measurements were recorded in 15 (46.8 per cent) fetuses. A thorax circumference below the 5th percentile for the respective gestational age was found in 15 cases (46.8 per cent) and a decreased LD/TC ratio in 25 cases (78.1 per cent). In 13 out of 32 fetuses pulmonary hypoplasia was diagnosed before, and in 19 cases after 24 weeks of gestation. Pulmonary hypoplasia was confirmed by autopsy in all cases. Conclusion: pulmonary hypoplasia can be sonographically detected before 24 weeks of gestation. In cases of skeletal dysplasia and renal agenesis pulmonary hypoplasia can be diagnosed by chest and lung measurements, whereas in diaphragmatic hernia and hydrothorax diagnosis of pulmonary hypoplasia is possible only by lung measurement. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.