A comparative study of prenatal diagnosis and perinatal autopsy

J Ultrasound Med. 1994 Jun;13(6):451-6. doi: 10.7863/jum.1994.13.6.451.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of prenatal ultrasonography and to identify patterns of fetal malformations. All fetal and neonatal autopsies over a 3 year period were compared to prenatal sonographic findings and comparisons were made between the results of the two examinations. We identified 133 fetuses and neonates who had both a complete autopsy and a perinatal autopsy. Approximately 87% of autopsy-demonstrated major abnormalities had been detected by prenatal ultrasonography, with 61% of all malformations detected. Some limitations in accuracy of prenatal diagnosis are unavoidable, but strict attention to a thorough fetal examination should improve accuracy. Autopsy examination remains an important component of the evaluation of perinatal losses, especially if dysmorphology is known or suspected.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Autopsy
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fetal Diseases / pathology*
  • Fetus / abnormalities*
  • Fetus / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pregnancy
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*