Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

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VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 1 ( January-March, 2024 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Three-dimensional Ultrasound in Early Pregnancy—Part II: Quantity and Quality of Early Pregnancy

Emilija Petanovska Kostova

Keywords : Early pregnancy three-dimensional ultrasound, Embryo anembryonic pregnancies, Gestational sac, Missed abortion, Three-dimensional color Doppler, Yolk sac

Citation Information : Kostova EP. Three-dimensional Ultrasound in Early Pregnancy—Part II: Quantity and Quality of Early Pregnancy. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024; 18 (1):73-84.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10009-2013

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 28-03-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

The use of ultrasound in early pregnancy provides very useful data on establishing an accurate gestational age, quality, and development of early pregnancy, but also the detection of conditions related to pregnancy itself, such as twin pregnancy. The most important structure that confirms a potential normal intrauterine pregnancy and is recognized on ultrasound in the 6th gestational week is the embryonic pool, which appears as a hypoechoic structure immediately adjacent to the yolk sac. The embryonic period ends in the 9th gestational week, and the fetal period begins. Certain suspicions for the existence of anomalies in embryos are proven in the fetal period. In the 9th gestational stage, the fugue of the embryo elongates, and the extremities are already clearly visible. After 12 weeks of gestation, ultrasound is a powerful tool in the definitive detection of fetal anomalies. Screenings to detect anomalies and tests that talk about intrauterine physiology and pathology of the fetus have already been established for this. Certainly, the main goal is to bring into the world a newborn alive and capable of living. Regarding spontaneous interruptions of early pregnancy, two types are differentiated: blighted ovum or anembryonic pregnancies and missed abortion.


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