First AD

Second AD

What's your diagnosis in this late second trimester fetus?

The fetal bowel in these images is at least as echogenic as the fetal bony parts, hence the diagnosis of echogenic fetal bowel. This condition is usually the result of ingestion of hemorrhagic amniotic fluid, which is caused by placental abruption or following amniocentesis. In certain cases, this condition is associated with trisomy 21 and is considered a soft marker for Down syndrome.

Pregnancy and Birth

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Challenge your diagnostic skills. What's your diagnosis based on these abdominal images of a late second trimester fetus?

Image IQ: The Fetal Bowel

Joe Antony, MD