The importance of 3D echography in obstetrics and ginecology

k.Acosta
Obstetric and ginecology deparment, Universidad de Chile, Chile
Accepted 19 May 2011


Abstracts

Aims identify utility and benefits of the 3D  echography in obstetrics and ginecology area.

Methods Echography is a imaging procedure that uses the echoes of an ultrasound emission. Two scan heads have been built, one to rotate the plane around a horizontal, the second around a vertical to reconstruct a three dimensional image. New echography equipment and techniques offer superior image quality, greater accuracy, and expanding capabilities.

Three medical centers were studied. One hundred twenty pregnant women had been evaluated with 3d echography, between six and twelve weeks of gestation, sixteen and twenty weeks of gestation, and finally thrirty-three weeks of gestation. 

Results The advantages of 3D echography to identify fetal anomalies involving the face, limbs, thorax, spine and the central nervous system, was conclusive. Eighty percent of corporal anomalies were detected by ecography 3d.  In ninety-nine percent allow to visualize all the corporal structure of the fetus.

In ginecology this technique it allows differentiate endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, pulsatility index, resistance index of uterine vessels. 3D power doppler ultrasound provides a useful tool to investigate intratumor vascularization, volume of cervical cancer,  rectovaginal septal defects, in a one hundred percent of the cases.

Conclusions The 3D echografy offers a more comprehensive image of anatomical structures and pathological conditions and also allow observation of the exact spatial relationships. In obstetric area allow identify abnormalities of fetus and pregnant women and helps the bonding consultants understand fetalpathology better and can plan postnatal interventions better.

Keywords 3d echography, gestation, obstetrics, gynecology,benefits, pathology.

The 3D ultrasounds

Is a new technique of ultrasounds, it allows very real images. The image is constructed from the information captured by special soundings. In obstetrical area the 3d ultrasounds is used to obtain exact images of face and body of the fetus to follow the evolution of the fetal growth in the maternal uterus.

The images 3D are very useful  because it allow visualize many aspects of the gestation process, like to medical professional  for the detection of fetal anomalies, especially in face, extremities, thorax, spine or central nervous system. The family can see the face expressions like smiles, the corporal winks, blinking, yawns, and movements.