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Many congenital anomalies can be detected by ultrasound in the second trimester, altering pregnancy management. Accuracy, which is usually assumed by patients (and often by clinicians), is difficult to verify because few anomalies are confirmed after a pregnancy is terminated. In this prospective study, researchers examined pathologic autopsy results among 107 fetuses from pregnancies that had been terminated in the second trimester, after anomalies had been detected with ultrasound.
The major malformations detected with ultrasound most often affected the central nervous system (49%), kidney and urinary tracts (23%), and heart (11%). All major anomalies detected with ultrasound were confirmed at autopsy. However, autopsy identified some majo…