Hyperechogenic intestine (echogenic intestine) is the
appearance of bright white (ecogenic) areas in the region where the intestines
are located in the abdomen of the fetus during ultrasonography. It is observed
in one of about one hundred pregnancies in the second trimester ultrasonography
and usually disappears by itself within weeks. In the third trimester,
echogenic intestine monitoring is more common and common in the last months of
pregnancy.
In the majority of fetuses with hypereregenic intestinal
areas (50-80%), no problem occurs, they become healthy. But it has rarely been
shown to be associated with the following anomalies:
- Down syndrome and other chromosomal anomalies
- Cystic fibrosis
- Infections such as CMV
- Intestinal obstruction
- Amniotic water can cause bleeding and the fetus swallowing
it
- The meconium in the intestines, especially in later months,
can give this image
- In the presence of chorioamnionitis (infection of the
amniotic fluid and its membranes), ingestion of gas-forming bacteria in the
amniotic fluid may also cause this image.
Continued or lost echogenic intestinal presence should be
monitored with intermittent ultrasound follow-ups. The presence of other
anomalies that may accompany this with detailed ultrasonography should be
evaluated. There is not yet clear information and decisions about other tests
and evaluations that can be performed when the echogenic intestine is detected.
Amniocentesis may be required to investigate infections such as chromosomal
anomaly, cystic fibrosis, CMV - toxoplasma according to ultrasonography and
other screening test results. The fetus should be monitored closely for growth
retardation and oligohydramnios.
If no accompanying anomaly was found, other evaluations and
tests were normal, that is, worse pregnancy results were not observed in
fetuses with isolated echogenic intestine compared to normal fetuses.
-FETAL SURGERY
-GASTROCHISIS - OMPHALOCELE
-HYDROCELE
-HYPERECOGENIC INTESTINE
-HEART ANOMALIES
