Value of ultrasound in twin pregnancies during early trimmest / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the value of ultrasound in screening of twin pregnancies during early trimmest (11-13+6 weeks). Methods: Totally 196 twin pregnant women who received prenatal ultrasonography at 11-13+6 weeks were enrolled, among them the twins were classified as chorionic and amniotic. The fetal-rump length and nuchal translucency (NT) were measured, the fetal structures were examined systematically to detect structural abnormalities, and the pregnancy outcomes were followed up. Results: Among 196 twin pregnant women, dichorionic and diamniotic (DCDA) twins were found in 149 women, monochorionic and diamniotic (MCDA) twins were found in 43 women, while monochorionic and monoamniotic (MCMA) twins were observed in 4 women. Ultrasonography showed that 36 pregnant women had abnormal fetuses, including 30 DCDA twins, 4 MCDA twins and 2 MCMA twins. A total of 30 abnormal fetuses were detected in DCDA twins, all were one of the twins, including one with spine and lower limbs abnormally developed, one with neck water cyst, one of twins stopped developing in 25 cases and one of twins with thickened NT in 3 cases. A total of 6 abnormal fetuses were detected in MCDA twins, including one fetus without cardiac twins sequence, one of twins with neck water cyst in one case, one of the twins stopped developing and the other with neck water cyst in one case, and both twins stopped developing in one case. Among MCMA twins, encephalomeningocele was found in one of twins in one case, while conjoined twins were detected in one case. Conclusion: Ultrasound screening plays a very important role in diagnosing chorionic and amniotic, detecting fetal structural abnormalities and complications of twins during early trimmest.