A case report describing a fetus with severe ultrasound abnormalities including pericardial and pleural effusions despite normal cardiac anatomy and function.
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Alerts clinicians to noncardiac causes of fetal effusions despite normal echocardiography; leaves open etiology pending additional reports.
A 32-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital at 23.1 weeks of gestation, because of an abnormal fetal ultrasound study. Nineteen days before admission, a sonogram revealed a thickened fetal nuchal fold, bilateral nuchal cystic hygromas, and pericardial and pleural effusions. Fetal echocardiography revealed normal cardiac anatomy and function. Testing for infectious diseases was negative. The pregnancy was terminated, and a fetal autopsy was performed.
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Lockwood et al. (2009) studied this question.
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