Learning objectives
The purpose of this educational exhibit is to:
To demonstrate the various standard normal planes in fetal face evaluation.
To demonstrate ultrasound imaging appearances of various fetal facial anomalies
To discuss the tips and tricks in diagnosis
Background
The facial structures can be consistently identified from the 12th week of gestation.
Before 12th week the facial structures are too thin to be reliably imaged with current ultrasound equipment.
A systematic approach to the examination of the fetal face should include axial,
sagittal and coronal planes.
Coronal planes are very important in the evaluation of the integrity of the fetal face and orbits,
eyelids,
nose,
and lips are well visualized in the coronal plane.
Series of transverse scans from the top of the head...
Findings and procedure details
Systematic approach: Normal planes.
A routine approach to fetal face includes evaluation of face in all 3 planes- axial,
coronal and sagittal.
1. Axial plane:
Serious of transverse images of the face obtained craniocaudally to examine various structures like forehead,
nose,
orbits,
lips,
anterior palate and mandible (Fig 1).
It helps in diagnosing many conditions like hyper/hypotelorism,
microphthalmia,
cataract,
the extension of the cleft lip into the alveolar ridge and anterior palate,
asymmetry of face.
2. Coronal plane:
Modified coronal view helps to assess the...
Conclusion
Fetal facial anomalies can be isolated or associated with various syndromes.
Familiarity with the normal three planes and appearances helps in the diagnosis of most of these anomalies.
So these anomalies can be important clues in the diagnosis of syndromes.
References
1.
Fetal cleft accessed fromhttps://fetalmedicine.org/education/fetal-abnormalities/face/facial-cleft
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B.R.; Frigoletto,
F.D.
Jr.
& Bieber,
F.R.
(1984).
The fetal face: ultrasound examination.
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No.2,
(November),
pp.
495-497
3.Goldstein I.,
Tamir A.,
Itskovitz-Eldor J.
& Zimmer E.Z.
(1997).
Growth of the fetal nose width and nostril distance in normal pregnancies.
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology,
Vol.
9,
No.1,
(January),
pp.
35-38
4.Goldstein I.,
Tamir A.,
Weiner Z.
& Jakobi P.
(2010).
Dimensions of the fetal facial profile in normal pregnancy.
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology,
Vol.35,
No.2,
(February),...