Ultrasonographic signs of poor pregnancy outcome

Abstract

The frequency of spontaneous abortion, when it is considered from its very beginning, along with the theoretical knowledge of the causes of the abortion, should provide a perspective to the obstetrician that, performing a sonographic exploration finds discoveries that cannot correspond to those characterizing a normal pregnancy. The precocity of the realization of sonographic explorations in the pregnancy will allow diagnosis of many more cases of spontaneous interruptions of the development of pregnancy. New sonographic imaging techniques including threedimensional (3D) sonography can provide additional information regarding the presence of structural anomalies via 3D volume acquisition, like craniofacial deformities, clefts, neural tube defects, abdominal wall defects, and caudal regression syndrome. It may give further details regarding the timing of embryonic/ fetal demise in early pregnancy. Sufficient informational value is regularly obtained in cases having a crown-rump length >8 mm.