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Obstetric Imaging

Radiology

Shraga Blazer, MD Fetal Omphalocele Detected


Etan Z. Zimmer, MD
Ayala Gover, MD Early in Pregnancy: Associated
Moshe Bronshtein, MD
Anomalies and Outcomes1
Index terms:
Fetus, abnormalities, 856.8713,
856.872, 856.874, 856.8761, PURPOSE: To detect omphalocele and associated anomalies at ultrasonography
856.877 (US) early in pregnancy and to describe the outcomes in fetuses with isolated and
Fetus, US, 856.12981, 856.12989 nonisolated omphalocele.
Intestines, hernia, 856.8761
Pregnancy, US, 856.12981, MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fetal endovaginal US was performed in 43,896
856.12989 pregnant women at 12–16 weeks gestation. The women found to have fetal
Umbilical cord omphalocele were offered an amniocentesis to determine the fetal karyotype. For
Published online parents who decided to continue the pregnancy, repeat targeted transabdominal
10.1148/radiol.2321030795 fetal US was performed at 20 –24 weeks gestation. Additional follow-up US exami-
Radiology 2004; 232:191–195 nations performed until delivery were recommended. Postnatal pediatric examina-
tions were performed in all of these fetuses. For the pregnancies in which no
1
From the Departments of Neonatol- anomaly was detected at early US, the women were advised to undergo repeat US
ogy (S.B.) and Obstetrics and Gyne- at about 24 weeks gestation for the detection of late-manifesting fetal anomalies.
cology (E.Z.Z., A.G., M.B.), Rambam For pregnancies in which the baby was not delivered at the authors’ affiliated
Medical Center and Faculty of Medi-
cine, Technion-Israel Institute of Tech- hospital, the woman, her obstetrician, and her pediatrician were asked to inform the
nology, 8 Ha’Aliyah St, Haifa 35254, authors of any detected anomaly.
Israel. Received May 21, 2003; revi-
sion requested August 4; final revision RESULTS: Omphalocele was visualized at US in 38 fetuses, who were categorized
received October 19; accepted No- into two groups. One group consisted of 22 (58%) fetuses with associated structural
vember 12. Address correspondence
anomalies. According to the karyotype determined for 18 of these fetuses, 11 of
to S.B. (e-mail: blazer@rambam.health
.gov.il). them also had chromosomal anomalies. The pregnancy was terminated at the
parents’ request in 19 of these 22 cases. There were two cases of missed abortion,
and a small omphalocele in one fetus disappeared at 21 weeks gestation. The
second group consisted of 16 (42%) fetuses with a normal karyotype and an
omphalocele as an isolated US finding. In eight of these fetuses, the omphalocele
disappeared at 20 –24 weeks gestation and no defect was seen at delivery. In six
other fetuses, omphalocele was identified at delivery. There was one case each of
missed abortion and pregnancy termination. There were no false-negative diag-
noses of omphalocele.
CONCLUSION: Isolated omphalocele diagnosed during the early stages of gesta-
tion typically has a good prognosis. In cases of a small defect, the anomaly may
disappear later in the pregnancy.
© RSNA, 2004

Omphalocele and gastroschisis are the two most common major congenital abdominal
Author contributions: wall defects (1). With omphalocele, the intraabdominal viscera herniate into the base of
Guarantors of integrity of entire study, the umbilical cord and the herniated viscera are covered by the peritoneum and amnion.
all authors; study concepts and de-
sign, all authors; literature research, all
The incidence of omphalocele reported in the literature varies considerably, ranging from
authors; clinical studies, all authors; 0.8 to 3.9 cases per 10,000 births (2). Omphalocele is known to be a part of various
data acquisition, M.B., A.G.; data anal- anomaly syndromes, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, pentalogy of Cantrell, and
ysis/interpretation, all authors; manu- omphalocele exstrophy imperforate anus spinal defects syndrome (2–5). Overall, associ-
script preparation, definition of intel-
ated structural anomalies have been noted in 27% (3) to 91% (6) of fetuses with ompha-
lectual content, editing, revision/
review, and final version approval, all locele, and abnormal chromosomes—mainly those of trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 (7,8)—
authors have been observed in 20%–50% of cases.
© RSNA, 2004 The exact mechanism leading to omphalocele is controversial. During normal embry-
onic growth, a rapid elongation of the gut and its mesentery characterizes the develop-

191
ment of the midgut. As a result of this US Examination and Image ing the fetuses in whom no omphalocele
rapid growth and the simultaneous ex- Interpretation had been detected, it should be noted
pansion of the liver, the abdominal cav- that not all of the women who under-
All US examinations were performed
ity becomes too small to contain all of went US at our US facility gave birth at
by the same sonologist (M.B.) by using a
the intestinal loops, so they enter the our affiliated hospital. Therefore, for
commercially available unit (ESI 3,000;
Radiology

extraembryonic coelom in the umbilical those cases in which the baby was born at
Elscint, Haifa, Israel) with a 7.5-MHz an-
cord. This process of physiologic umbili- another hospital, we asked the mother,
nular-array vaginal transducer. The so-
cal herniation occurs during the 6th her obstetrician, and her pediatrician to
nologist had 3 years experience before
week of development. During the 10th inform us of any anomaly observed in
the start of this study. The average US
week, the intestines return to the abdom- the newborn(s).
scanning time per patient was 20 –30
inal cavity. This process is called the re-
minutes. In cases in which it was techni-
duction of the midgut hernia (9 –11). Ul-
cally difficult to visualize all of the fetal RESULTS
trasonographic (US) examinations have
organs vaginally (in about 1% of patients),
revealed the completion of this process at
an additional US examination was per-
12 weeks gestation (12). It has been sug- Omphalocele was detected in 38 fetuses
formed by using 3.5- and 5.0-MHz abdom-
gested that failure of the intestinal loops of the 43,896 pregnant women—an oc-
inal probes.
to reenter the abdominal cavity results in currence of approximately one in every
The US diagnosis of omphalocele was
omphalocele (13). Another possibility is 1,155 or 0.09% of the pregnancies—at
based on the presence of an abdominal
that omphalocele results from the failure 12–16 weeks gestation (Figure). No false-
wall defect with herniation of the intes-
of the embryonic lateral folds to fuse in negative diagnoses were recorded in this
tinal loops and/or other abdominal or-
the midline (10). series.
gans into the umbilical cord. The US fea-
There are few case reports of transient Associated structural anomalies were
tures of the liver and intestines differ
fetal omphalocele (14,15) or delayed re- detected at initial US in 22 (58%) of the
from those of the blood vessels of the
duction of the physiologic midgut hernia 38 fetuses (Table 1); the karyotype of 18
umbilical cord. The liver and the lumen
(16). Therefore, it seems that the US de- of these 22 fetuses was determined with
of the bowel are echogenic, whereas the
tection of herniation of intestinal loops amniocentesis. An abnormal karyotype
lumen of the blood vessels is anechoic.
into the umbilical cord during the early was identified in 11 of the 18 fetuses in
Regarding the entire series of 43,896
stages of pregnancy raises concern re- whom chromosomal analysis was per-
pregnant women, it should be noted that
garding the exact origin and importance formed. The specific karyotype abnor-
in cases in which a fetal anomaly was
of this finding: Does it represent a mal- malities are listed in Table 1. Herniation
detected at US, targeted follow-up US
formation or a delayed physiologic pro- of the liver into the omphalocele was
scans were usually obtained at our insti-
cess? detected in five of these 22 fetuses. Car-
tution. For those cases in which no
The aim of this study was to detect diac anomalies were detected in 13; cys-
anomaly was detected at US during the
omphalocele and associated anomalies at tic hygroma, in 13; limb anomalies, in
early stages of pregnancy, we recom-
US during the early stages of pregnancy eight; and renal anomalies, in seven fe-
mended that the woman undergo tar-
and to describe the outcomes in fetuses tuses. In one fetus, the omphalocele had
geted follow-up US at about 24 weeks
with isolated and nonisolated omphalo- disappeared by the time of follow-up US
gestation for the detection of anomalies
cele. scanning. This child was followed up for
that may have manifested late (eg, dwarf-
3 years and was healthy at the time of
ism or hydrocephaly). These follow-up
MATERIALS AND METHODS this writing. Three sibling fetuses in
scans were obtained in many cases by
consecutive pregnancies had the same
Study Population various sonologists and not only by the
combination of anomalies: omphalo-
initial sonologist (M.B.), and to our
For this study, we enrolled 43,896 con- cele, hydrocephaly, tetralogy of Fallot,
knowledge almost all of the women in
secutive pregnant women who under- and clubfoot.
this study underwent such scanning.
went US early in their pregnancy (ie, at Data on the 16 fetuses in whom
12–16 weeks gestation) during the period omphalocele was a solitary US finding are
of September 1987 to December 2002. presented in Table 2. Amniocentesis re-
Karyotype Determination and
The mean maternal age was 31.1 years sults showed all 16 of these fetuses to
Follow-up
(range, 17– 45 years). This large series re- have a normal karyotype. Herniation of
flects the tendency in our region for phy- In addition to detailed targeted US ex- the liver was not observed in any of these
sicians to perform detailed targeted US aminations of all fetal organs, fetal karyo- fetuses. Among these 16 fetuses with iso-
examinations of almost every pregnant typing was offered in all cases in which lated omphalocele, there was one case of
woman. Eighty-eight percent (n ⫽ 38,634) omphalocele was detected. Follow-up missed abortion. In another case, the par-
of these women were at low risk for fetal transabdominal US of the fetus was per- ents decided to terminate the pregnancy.
malformations, whereas 12% (n ⫽ 5,262) formed at 20 –24 weeks gestation by the Follow-up data on the remaining 14 fe-
had risk factors such as exposure to medi- same observer (M.B.) in all cases in which tuses were available. Each of four fetuses
cations, family history of congenital mal- the parent(s) decided to continue the was a co-twin in a set of twins in which
formations, and consanguinity. The study pregnancy. The mothers were advised to one of the co-twins was affected. In six
was approved by the institutional review continue undergoing follow-up US ex- newborns, omphalocele was confirmed
board of Rambam Medical Center and Fac- aminations performed by an experienced at delivery and surgically treated. In the
ulty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute examiner until delivery. A postnatal other eight fetuses, the abdominal wall
of Technology, and all maternal patients physical examination was performed in defect had disappeared by the time of
gave their consent to be examined for the all neonates in whom omphalocele had repeat US performed between 20 and 24
study. been observed during pregnancy. Regard- weeks gestation. It is interesting that the

192 䡠 Radiology 䡠 July 2004 Blazer et al


abnormal karyotype in the fetuses with
isolated omphalocele in our series, we
still believe that karyotyping should be
offered to all patients in whom this
anomaly is detected because our series
Radiology

was too small for us to draw a definitive


conclusion regarding the possibility of an
abnormal karyotype in such fetuses.
Of special interest are the nine fetuses
in whom the omphalocele disappeared
according to follow-up US findings. All of
these fetuses had a normal karyotype,
and the initial US scan revealed only a
few herniated intestinal loops in the um-
bilical cord. In all except one (fetus 22 in
Table 1) of these cases, the omphalocele
was a solitary finding. The underlying
reason for transient omphalocele is not
yet clear. However, it is possible that this
phenomenon represents a physiologic
process of midgut herniation. Our review
of the literature revealed few reports of
transient omphalocele that was detected
at 14.0 and 15.5 weeks gestation and had
a favorable outcome (14,15). There is,
however, a report of a fetus in whom the
midgut reduction process was delayed
until 13 weeks gestation and volvulus
and intestinal obstruction were observed
at delivery (16). In our series, the late
disappearance of herniated intestines
was observed in nine fetuses of the
43,896 pregnancies (ie, one in every
4,877 pregnancies).
US scans of omphalocele (OC and O.C) in five fetuses at 14 –16 weeks gestation. A, Sagittal
The discrepancy between our data and
scan of a single herniated intestinal loop (arrow) at 14 weeks gestation. B, Sagittal scan of
a single herniated intestinal loop (arrows) at 16 weeks gestation. C, Sagittal scan of two the very rare incidence of transient
herniated intestinal loops (arrows) at 14 weeks gestation. Additional US scanning revealed omphalocele reported in the literature
that the tubelike structures were intestinal loops and not umbilical arteries. D, Transverse may be attributed to the US scanning
oblique scan of a cluster of herniated intestinal loops (arrows) at 15 weeks gestation. technique that we used. The improved
E, Transverse oblique scan of omphalocele (arrow) at 15 weeks gestation. F, Transverse resolution achieved by using the de-
oblique scan of the omphalocele in the same fetus as in E at 21 weeks gestation; arrows
scribed endovaginal technique enables
point to a normal umbilical cord with no herniated content.
the visualization of even a small hernia-
tion of the intestine into the umbilical
cord, which may be overlooked when the
transabdominal technique is used. Fur-
original omphalocele seen in these eight nancy, the anomaly disappeared later in
thermore, because the incidence of this
fetuses contained only a few intestinal the pregnancy.
phenomenon, as observed by us, is about
loops. All of these fetuses were healthy at According to the Online Mendelian In-
one in 4,900 pregnancies, sonographers
birth. One of them had a small umbilical heritance in Man database (17), ompha-
have to scan many thousands of patients
hernia that did not necessitate treatment locele may be a part of 52 syndromes.
to find a single case. The exact time that
and resolved spontaneously. Therefore, a wide range of differential di- the herniated intestine disappeared in
agnoses should be considered for fetuses the fetuses examined in the present study
DISCUSSION in whom omphalocele is observed. De- is not clear because the maternal patients
tailed repeat targeted US examinations of underwent repeat US at 20 –24 weeks ges-
Results of the present study show that all fetal organs are mandatory in these tation.
omphalocele with other associated struc- cases because the detection of associated We believe that an additional original
tural anomalies is also associated with a structural anomalies may help direct the aspect of the present series was the iden-
high incidence of chromosomal aberra- observer in diagnosing a specific syn- tification of three sibling fetuses who had
tions. On the other hand, in the present drome. Because of the reported high in- the same combination of anomalies:
study there were no cases of an abnormal cidence of chromosomal aberrations in omphalocele, hydrocephaly, tetralogy of
karyotype in the fetuses with isolated fetuses with omphalocele, in this study Fallot, and clubfoot.
omphalocele. Furthermore, in half of the we offered chromosomal analysis to all One should be aware that it might be
cases of isolated omphalocele that were patients with this abnormality. Despite difficult to detect in utero all of the syn-
diagnosed during the early stage of preg- the fact that there were no cases of an dromes associated with omphalocele. For

Volume 232 䡠 Number 1 Fetal Omphalocele Detected Early in Pregnancy 䡠 193


TABLE 1
Characteristics of Fetuses with Omphalocele Associated with Other Structural Anomalies Detected Early in Pregnancy
Fetus Maternal Gestational
No. Age (y) Age (wk) Associated Anomalies* Karyotype† Outcome
Radiology

1 34 14 Hydronephrosis, horseshoe kidney, nonseptated cystic hygroma, short Trisomy 18 Pregnancy terminated
limbs, VSD
2 24 14 Horseshoe kidney, septated cystic hygroma, tetralogy of Fallot Trisomy 18 Pregnancy terminated
3 40 15 AVSD, cleft lip and palate, IUGR Trisomy 18 Pregnancy terminated
4 32 15 Diaphragmatic hernia, horseshoe kidney Trisomy 18 Pregnancy terminated
5 36 14 Abdominal cyst, AVSD, horseshoe kidney, septated cystic hygroma Trisomy 18 Missed abortion
6 39 14 Coarctation of aorta, hydronephrosis, oligohydramnios, nonseptated Trisomy 21 Pregnancy terminated
cystic hygroma
7‡ 28 15 Nonimmune hydrops, septated cystic hygroma, short limbs Trisomy 21 Pregnancy terminated
8 39 15 Bilateral clubfoot, hydrocephaly, IUGR, tetralogy of Fallot Trisomy 13 Pregnancy terminated
9 30 12 Holoprosencephaly, oligohydramnios, proboscis, septated cystic Triploidy Pregnancy terminated
hygroma
10‡ 29 16 Horseshoe kidney, septated cystic hygroma, trigonocephaly Triploidy Pregnancy terminated
11 34 16 Dysplastic kidney, nonimmune hydrops, septated cystic hygroma 45, XO Pregnancy terminated
12§ 26 14 Clubfoot, hydrocephaly, tetralogy of Fallot Normal Pregnancy terminated
13§ 21 15 Clubfoot, hydrocephaly, tetralogy of Fallot Normal Pregnancy terminated
14§ 23 15 Clubfoot, hydrocephaly, tetralogy of Fallot Normal Pregnancy terminated
15‡ 24 14 Hyperechogenic cortex, IUGR Normal Pregnancy terminated
16 26 16 Dandy-Walker malformation, oligohydramnios, septated cystic hygroma, Normal Pregnancy terminated
severe heart malformation, short limbs
17 30 16 Hydrops fetalis, septated cystic hygroma Normal Pregnancy terminated
18 37 13 Anophthalmos, AVSD, holoprosencephaly, polydactyly, proboscis, NP Pregnancy terminated
septated cystic hygroma
19‡ 33 13 Septated cystic hygroma, severe heart malformation NP Pregnancy terminated
20‡ 33 14 Arthrogryposis, clenched hands, DOLV, microtia NP Pregnancy terminated
21 32 15 Septated cystic hygroma NP Missed abortion
22 36 15 Nonseptated cystic hygroma Normal Normal, omphalocele
and nonseptated
cystic hygroma
disappeared at 21
weeks gestation
* AVSD ⫽ atrioventricular septal defect, DOLV ⫽ double-outlet left ventricle, IUGR ⫽ intrauterine growth restriction, VSD ⫽ ventricular septal defect.
† NP ⫽ not performed: Amniocentesis to determine fetal karyotype was not performed.
‡ Liver herniation in the omphalocele.
§ Fetuses 12–14 were siblings.

instance, the gestational age at which the


classic signs of Beckwith-Wiedemann TABLE 2
Characteristics of Fetuses with Isolated Omphalocele Detected Early in
syndrome, such as macroglossia, become Pregnancy
apparent at US is not yet clear. There are
even reports of the late manifestation of Maternal Gestational
the characteristic findings of Beckwith- Fetus No. Age (y) Age (wk) Outcome
Wiedemann syndrome after delivery (18). 1* 30 15 Omphalocele surgically treated, healthy newborn
We therefore advocate performing careful 2 26 15 Omphalocele surgically treated, healthy newborn
follow-up US examinations throughout 3 22 16 Omphalocele surgically treated, healthy newborn
4 25 16 Omphalocele surgically treated, healthy newborn
gestation so that parents and caregivers 5 27 16 Omphalocele surgically treated, healthy newborn
have as much information as is neces- 6* 28 16 Omphalocele surgically treated, healthy newborn
sary to facilitate the ideal management 7 27 14 Missed abortion
of the pregnancy. Furthermore, it may 8 26 15 Pregnancy terminated
9 28 14 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 20 weeks gestation
even be a good recommendation to fol- 10 32 15 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 20 weeks gestation
low up fetuses with omphalocele after 11 26 15 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 20 weeks gestation
birth to exclude the possibility of an 12 32 15 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 22 weeks gestation
abnormality such as Beckwith-Wiede- 13* 19 15 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 22 weeks gestation
14 29 15 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 23 weeks gestation
mann syndrome and its associated com- 15 36 16 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 24 weeks gestation
plications (eg, Wilm tumor). 16* 35 15 Normal, omphalocele disappeared at 22 weeks
There were possible limitations in our gestation, small umbilical hernia at birth
study. As noted earlier, not all of the Note.—These 16 fetuses had normal karyotypes and no associated abnormalities.
women included in the study gave birth * One fetus in a set of twins.
at our affiliated hospital. In such cases,
our data on pregnancy outcome were
based on the compliance of the maternal
patients, their obstetricians, and their pe- the best of our knowledge, we were in- detected. In addition, to the best of our
diatricians in reporting information. To formed about almost every malformation knowledge, there was no case of an un-

194 䡠 Radiology 䡠 July 2004 Blazer et al


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