Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis: a review of fetal outcome

Prenatal ultrasound is a very useful investigation to alert the clinician and parents to a potential fetal anomaly and permit appropriate management. In this retrospective series 196 fetal anomalies were identified by ultrasound. In 100 cases the diagnosis was confirmed and complete; in 37 the diagnosis was confirmed but there were additional significant pathological features; in 19 the diagnosis was confirmed but there were additional pathological features of academic interest only; in 16 there were transient prenatal ultrasound features but the baby was normal at birth; and in 21 the anomaly was not confirmed by pathological examination or records of live births were incomplete. Overall, the 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.