ACCURACY OF ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS OF

SINGLE UMBILICAL ARTERY

• Jauniaux and co-workers (1) compared the pre and postnatal findings in a series of 80 cases of SUA.
• 43% had malformations at postnatal evaluation, however only 26% of fetuses were diagnosed prenatally as being malformed.
• 100 anomalies were detected postnatally and only 52% of these were detected antenatally.
• 38% of fetuses with malformations were incorrectly assessed as being normal.
• Prenatal scanning did not detect 8% of cases of IUGR.
• Catanzarite and co-workers (2) showed that ultrasound cannot reliably detect all abnormalities associated with SUA.
• Jones and colleagues (3) evaluated the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of SUA.
• Sensitivity = 65%
• Only 11% of the cases were diagnosed before 20 weeks gestation.

REFERENCES

1. Jauniaux E, De Munter C, Pardou A et.al. Evaluation echographique du syndrome de l'artere ombilicale unique: une serie de 80 cas. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod 1989;18:341-348.
2. Catanzarite VA, Hendricks SK, Maida C et.al. Prenatal diagnosis of the two vessel cord: implications for patient councelling and obstetric management. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1995;5:98-105.