Echogenic yolk sac

Last revised by Jeremy Jones on 20 Sep 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Morgan M, Anan R, Di Muzio B, et al. Echogenic yolk sac. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-37568

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-37568

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/37568

rID:

37568

Article created:

13 Jun 2015, Matt A. Morgan ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Matt A. Morgan had no recorded disclosures.

View Matt A. Morgan's current disclosures

Last revised:

20 Sep 2021, Jeremy Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Obstetrics

Tags:

ultrasound, first trimester

An echogenic yolk sac is an indeterminate finding in first-trimester fetal ultrasound. It differs from a calcified yolk sac, in that the contents of the yolk sac are echogenic, not just the rim.

One study has suggested that this finding is associated with fetal demise, but other reports in the literature suggest that there may be no association ^1,2.

Practical points

indeterminate abnormal yolk sac abnormality that should not be considered alone for the diagnosis of failed early pregnancy
follow-up ultrasonography at 7-14 days to assess the pregnancy for viability is generally appropriate