Three‐dimensional ultrasonographic assessment of fetal hands and feet

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to describe fetal hands and feet using three‐dimensional ultrasonography. Design This was a randomized prospective study. Methods Ninety‐seven fetuses from 12 to 40 weeks' gestation were studied with a specially developed transabdominal three‐dimensional transducer (3.5 MHz). The imaging system used in this study can provide conventional two‐dimensional ultrasound images and can also generate, within seconds, high‐quality three‐dimensional images in the surface and transparent modes with no need for an external workstation. The rate of visualization of the hands/fingers and feet/toes at each gestational‐age interval was calculated using two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional ultrasonography. Results The ability to visualize fetal hands/fingers and feet/toes was better with three‐dimensional than with two‐dimensional ultrasonography in the late first trimester (detection rates were 65% and 41% by three‐dimensional ultrasonography for hands and feet, respectively, and 41% and 12%, respectively, by two‐dimensional ultrasonography). For the early second trimester, detection rates were 82% for hands and 72% for feet by three‐dimensional ultrasonography, and 54% for hands and 45% for feet by two‐dimensional ultrasonography. Optimal visualization of the fetal fingers using three‐dimensional ultrasonography was achieved between 28 and 35 weeks of gestation, although at this stage there were no significant differences in detection rates for hands and feet between two‐ and three‐dimensional imaging. During this period it was possible with three‐dimensional ultrasonography adequately to depict at least one hand in 93% of the fetuses at 28–31 weeks and in 88% at 32–35 weeks. The percentage of visualization of at least one fetal foot between 16 and 35 weeks using three‐dimensional ultrasonography ranged from 50 to 85%. Before 15 weeks or after 36 weeks, the respective percentages decreased. Conclusions Three‐dimensional ultrasonography provides a novel means of visualizing fetal fingers and toes. Our observations suggest that three‐dimensional ultrasonography may enhance the diagnostic potential of two‐dimensional ultrasonography and might be useful in identifying fetal malformations and anatomical markers of chromosomal abnormalities prenatally in high‐risk pregnancies. Copyright © 1998 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: