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Fetal bifid sacrum artifact: normal developmental anatomy simulating malformation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kliewer, MA; Hertzberg, BS; George, P; Baumeister, LA; Black, BL; McNally, PJ; Ahearn, EP; Bowie, JD
Published in: Radiology
June 1995

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical importance and origin of a bifid configuration of the fetal sacrum seen during routine fetal sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An apparent bifid malformation of the sacral spine was seen in 24 fetuses at antenatal sonography. An attempt was made to recreate this configuration prospectively in 111 consecutive second- and third-trimester fetuses. Three cadavers were also imaged to determine the origin of this configuration. RESULTS: Outcome information was available for 22 of the 24 fetuses; all fetuses were normal. In the prospective study, the bifid sacrum configuration was recreated in 75 of the 111 fetuses studied. The configuration could never be produced earlier than 20 weeks gestational age, was seen in some fetuses at 20-25 weeks, and could always be seen after 25 weeks. Findings from imaging studies of the three cadavers revealed that this configuration was dependent on the demonstration of the alar ossification centers of the sacral vertebra. CONCLUSION: The bifid sacrum artifact is a skewed representation of normal anatomy and should not be interpreted as a true anomaly.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Radiology

DOI

ISSN

0033-8419

Publication Date

June 1995

Volume

195

Issue

3

Start / End Page

673 / 676

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Sacrum
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Gestational Age
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Kliewer, M. A., Hertzberg, B. S., George, P., Baumeister, L. A., Black, B. L., McNally, P. J., … Bowie, J. D. (1995). Fetal bifid sacrum artifact: normal developmental anatomy simulating malformation. Radiology, 195(3), 673–676. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.195.3.7753992
Kliewer, M. A., B. S. Hertzberg, P. George, L. A. Baumeister, B. L. Black, P. J. McNally, E. P. Ahearn, and J. D. Bowie. “Fetal bifid sacrum artifact: normal developmental anatomy simulating malformation.Radiology 195, no. 3 (June 1995): 673–76. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.195.3.7753992.
Kliewer MA, Hertzberg BS, George P, Baumeister LA, Black BL, McNally PJ, et al. Fetal bifid sacrum artifact: normal developmental anatomy simulating malformation. Radiology. 1995 Jun;195(3):673–6.
Kliewer, M. A., et al. “Fetal bifid sacrum artifact: normal developmental anatomy simulating malformation.Radiology, vol. 195, no. 3, June 1995, pp. 673–76. Pubmed, doi:10.1148/radiology.195.3.7753992.
Kliewer MA, Hertzberg BS, George P, Baumeister LA, Black BL, McNally PJ, Ahearn EP, Bowie JD. Fetal bifid sacrum artifact: normal developmental anatomy simulating malformation. Radiology. 1995 Jun;195(3):673–676.
Journal cover image

Published In

Radiology

DOI

ISSN

0033-8419

Publication Date

June 1995

Volume

195

Issue

3

Start / End Page

673 / 676

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Sacrum
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Humans
  • Gestational Age
  • Female