Fetal ascites refers to the accumulation of free fluid in the fetal abdomen. It is often considered under the same spectrum of hydrops fetalis.
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Pathology
Etiology
- any condition that results in hydrops fetalis
- additional causes include
- idiopathic
- bowel perforation (e.g. meconium peritonitis)
- ovarian cyst rupture
- intrauterine infections 6
- hydrometrocolpos 7
-
fetal urinary ascites
- transudation or rupture of the fetal urinary tract
- e.g. obstruction from posterior urethral valve
- persistent urogenital sinus
- transudation or rupture of the fetal urinary tract
Radiographic features
Antenatal ultrasound
In the case of simple ascites, free anechoic fluid is seen within the fetal abdominal cavity.
Differential diagnosis
General considerations include:
- fetal pseudoascites: hypoechoic abdominal wall muscles or occasionally the hypoechoic fetal omentum can artefactually mimic a small volume of ascites
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