[Ultrasound diagnosis of fetal tooth anlagen and their histologic correlates]. / Ultraschalldiagnostik fetaler Zahnanlagen und deren histologische Korrelate.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The present study was to examine the radiographic and histologic correlation of the respective ultrasonographic findings. METHODS: Histologic examinations were performed in 12 fetuses who had died in utero between 16 and 34 weeks of gestation. The fetuses had been examined by intrauterine sonography for tooth germs and had been subjected to additional radiographic examinations post abortum or partum. During autopsy, the tooth germs were again examined sonographically and radiographically, and non-decalcified histological sections were obtained by means of the sawing and grinding technique. RESULTS: The results obtained by histologically examining the 12 fetal jaws in the ultrasonic plane corresponded in all cases to those examined by sonography and radiology. CONCLUSION: Sonographic proof of tooth germs might gain increasing importance in future because agenesia of tooth germs is one of the principal signs of a variety of hereditary syndromes, particularly those of ectodermal origin.