Prenatal diagnosis of fetal omphalocele by ultrasound: A comparison of two centuries

An omphalocele, a fetal abdominal defect, is a very important congenital anomaly. Prenatal diagnosis of fetal omphalocele is crucial to clinical management.ObjectiveTo investigate the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis for fetal omphalocele, we undertook a retrospective and consecutive analysis of our ultrasound database between January 1994 and December 2011.Materials and MethodsIn total, ultrasound (US) detected 52 fetuses with an omphalocele in utero.ResultsThe incidence of fetal omphalocele is estimated as 1:1249 (0.08%). We also compared the gestational age at US diagnosis between the two centuries. In the 20th century, 22 cases of omphalocele were detected: four (18%) cases at first trimester, 17 (77%) cases at second trimester, and 1 (5%) case at third trimester. In the 21st century, 30 cases of omphalocele were detected: 13 (43%) cases at first trimester, 15 (50%) cases at second trimester, and two (7%) cases at third trimester. The gestational age at diagnosis of omphalocele is significantly earlier in the 21st century than in the last century.ConclusionWith the advancement and improvement in US equipment, the early detection of fetal omphalocele is feasible, which will substantially contribute to fetal wellbeing.