Complications: The presence of echogenic bowel on fetal ultrasound, both when isolated and when present in combination with other anomalies, has been associated with intrauterine growth restriction and intrauterine fetal demise. If there is a normal 4-chamber view and the outflow tracts are visualized as normal, then a fetal echocardiogram is not necessary. However, if these views are abnormal or not obtainable, a fetal echocardiogram should be performed.
Amniotic fluid should be sent for fetal karyotype as well as polymerase chain reaction for the most common congenital infections, such as CMV.
If unknown, parental cystic fibrosis carrier status also should be determined. If all your tests are normal, your baby will likely be healthy at birth. However, it is important to remember that not all problems can be detected during pregnancy. Therefore, while normal testing is reassuring, it cannot guarantee that your baby will be healthy.
Often echogenic bowel goes away over time. Bookmark this page. What is echogenic bowel of the fetus? How is echogenic bowel detected? What causes echogenic bowel? Abnormal bowel movement: Before the end of the first trimester, the fetus starts swallowing amniotic fluid, which is moved through the fetal gut by muscles in the intestines.
Bleeding into the amniotic fluid: Sometimes bleeding occurs during pregnancy. Cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that can affect the lungs and bowels, causing thickened mucus to build up in those organ systems. Chromosomal abnormality An abnormal number of chromosomes will change the genetic makeup of the baby, and many organ systems, including the bowel, can be affected.
Fetal growth restriction Sometimes a baby measures smaller than expected. False positive results Depending on the ultrasound machine and the sonographer person performing the ultrasound , echogenic bowel can sometimes appear brighter than it really is. Should I have more tests done?
Tests that may be offered include: A detailed ultrasound examination : This is to carefully look at your baby for any other ultrasound findings or abnormalities. Ultrasound can identify many but not all abnormalities. Amniocentesis : This is a test that removes a small amount of fluid from around the baby by a thin needle.
The fluid can be tested for chromosomal abnormalities as well as fetal infections. It is a very good genetic screening test for certain conditions, such as Down syndrome, but it is not as accurate as an amniocentesis. Maternal blood tests for infection such as cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis: These tests may determine if you have had a recent or past infection, but they will not tell you if your baby has been infected.
If your results show possible infection, additional testing may be recommended to confirm an infection in your baby. Tissue harmonic imaging and compound imaging should also be switched off. A sonographic grading system exists to assess the degree of echogenicity 15 , although this is not commonly used in clinical practice. If there is difficulty discerning whether bowel is as echogenic as bone, one can progressively decrease the image gain to see which structure disappears first. Workup of this finding should include, where available, an ultrasound study to assess for any associated anomalies, referral to genetic counseling, TORCH serology, cystic fibrosis carrier testing, and offer of amniocentesis.
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