the role of ultrasound in diagnosis and evaluation of major and common fetal malformations

SummaryAs a result of great advances in ultrasound imaging. we could now use Ultrasound as a significant tool for screening and diagnosis of fetal anomaliesUltrasound is an important and safe tool for diagnosis of fetal anomalies. The accuracy of obstetrics ultrasound in detecting these lesions is difficult to assess, due to differences in the extent of malformations, the quality of the equipments, and the expertise of the sonographer. Some anomalies are more difficult to diagnose than the others, for example, cardiac defects. Also technical limitation including different fetal positions and amniotic fluid volume make interpretation even more challengeableAll recent studies, report 100% detection of anencephaly, and many achieve rates approaching 100% for open neural tube defects.A general abnormalities of the heart, four-chamber view, rate and rhythm, should be included in the basic examination. If examination of the heart is extended to include views of great vessels, the numbers of the cardiac defects detected are reported to increase from about 48% to about 78%