Background: A double-outlet left ventricle is a very rare congenital heart anomaly. There have been only two reports on the prenatal diagnosis of a double-outlet left ventricle. Case description: In a fetal case of cystic hygroma with generalized skin edema, agenesis of the ductus venosus, and reverse end-diastolic umbilical artery velocity waveforms at 13 weeks of gestation, a double-outlet left ventricle and ventricular septal defect were clearly depicted with transvaginal SlowflowHD. Intrauterine fetal death occurred 6 days later. Conclusion: Transvaginal SlowflowHD may be a useful modality to diagnose complicated congenital heart anomalies, such as a double-outlet left ventricle with a ventricular septal defect, in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Objective: To assess fetal cardiac size and shape using HDlive Flow with spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) at 11–13⁺⁶ weeks of gestation. Materials and methods: During the 4 months from December 2021 to March 2022, HDlive Flow with STIC examinations were performed for 72 normal fetuses at 11–13⁺⁶ weeks. The spatial basal-apical length (BAL), transverse length (TL), fetal cardiac circumference (FCC), fetal cardiac area (FCA), and global sphericity index (GSI) were investigated. Reference ranges were also created. Results: Spatial BAL, TL, FCC, and FCA increased linearly with gestation (r = 0.5762, 0.6746, 0.6543, and 0.6412, respectively, p < 0.001). Spatial GSI (mean, 1.1755; SD, 0.1413) values were gradually decreasing at 11–13⁺⁶ weeks of gestation, but this was not significant (r = –0.1735, p = 0.167). Conclusion: The current results provide basic information to advanced understanding of fetal cardiac growth and development at 11–13⁺⁶ weeks of gestation.

Over the past 40 years, ultrasound has become established as an invaluable tool in obstetric management. There has been a steady increase in our understanding of normal and abnormal fetal physiology, along with an improvement in the quality of ultrasound equipment. This has not only led to our ability to diagnose an ever-increasing number of fetal conditions but has also moved the point of diagnosis to an earlier gestation. This benefits the patient in a number of ways, not the least of which is maintaining the maximum level of privacy and preservation of reproductive choices.

Christian Doppler first described the Doppler effect based on the changes in frequencies of light and sound produced by a changing relationship between two objects. Doppler ultrasound now provides practitioners with a noninvasive method to study fetal and placental hemodynamics. Doppler assessment of fetal circulation allows for the detection of pathologic rearrangements that occur in response to fetal hypoxemia, fetal growth restriction, and fetal anemia. Meanwhile, Doppler assessment of the placental circulation plays an important role in screening for impaired placentation and its complications, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and stillbirth. Novel use of three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler allows for investigation of morbidly adherent placentation. Doppler ultrasound continues to evolve to give practitioners a better understanding of the pathophysiology of a wide range of pathological pregnancies and their clinical management.

Fetal limb abnormalities can be found both in the context of generalized malformations, such as osteochondrodysplasias, and in the form of malformations that only affect individual limb sections or in diseases associated with impaired mobility of the limbs. With the different display modes of three-dimensional (3D) sonography, surface defects and bone abnormalities can be diagnosed precisely. In addition, four-dimensional (4D) sonography allows the targeted detection of limited or lacking mobility of extremities or extremity sections. In diseases with an increased risk of recurrence, fetal limb abnormalities can also be specifically excluded, and normal findings can be clearly demonstrated to the expectant parents. This article provides an overview of the advantages of 3D and 4D ultrasound in the targeted clarification of fetal limb abnormalities.

Congenital anomalies of the neck are rare or uncommon conditions, and for this reason their real incidence is practically unknown. Due to the particular anatomical topography, these abnormalities may comprise certain pathophysiological interferences with the base of the fetal skull, mouth, thorax, mediastinum, or musculoskeletal structures. Thus, even with the contribution of new obstetric imaging perspectives, such as fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the precise prenatal diagnosis of such anomalies represents a real challenge. The most important anomalies of the fetal neck, which we present in this systematic review, are represented by cystic hygroma (CH), neck teratoma, fetal goiter and fetal thyroid masses, branchial anomalies, vascular neck abnormalities, thyroglossal duct cyst, cervical thymic cyst, other rare anomalies of the fetal neck, and congenital high airway obstruction syndrome.

Menopause is ovarian exhaustion, leading to atrophy of the organs of the reproductive system. Transvaginal scan is the investigation of choice for evaluating these changes in the reproductive organs. Altered uterocervical ratio, decrease in uterine size, and thin endometrium are the typical uterine changes in normal cases. Ovaries appear solid-looking, with a decrease in size and in the number of follicles. Certain abnormalities are more common in the postmenopausal age. These include endometrial malignancy, cervical malignancy, and ovarian malignancies. These, on ultrasound, present as heterogeneous masses involving the endometrium, cervix, or ovaries, respectively. Fluid in the endometrial cavity may be the first presenting sign of cervical or endometrial malignancy, and free fluid in the pelvis may indicate ovarian malignancy; however, this may sometimes also be a normal finding. Doppler and three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler especially play a very important role in identifying the typical vascular characteristics of malignancy, thus being instrumental in the early diagnosis of these lesions.