Presentation
A routine prenatal third-trimester ultrasound examination was conducted to evaluate fetal growth and anatomy. She had no significant medical history, and her pregnancy has been unremarkable thus far.
Patient Data
A single intrauterine fetus is observed with a cephalic presentation.
The fetal brain exhibits normal ventricles, cerebellum, and cisterna magna.
The chest has a normal shape and echo pattern, with an intact diaphragm. However, there is evidence of moderate anechoic fluid accumulation in the thoracic cavity surrounding the lungs. The heart has normal four chambers and atrioventricular valves, and there is no fluid around the heart.
The abdomen is intact, with a normal stomach, bowel, bladder, and kidneys.
The spine has a regular outline from the neck to the sacrum, covered by continuous skin.
The placenta is anterior, well-attached, and not low-lying.
The umbilical cord is properly attached to the abdomen and placenta, away from the neck.
Doppler indices are normal.
Case Discussion
The anechoic bilateral thoracic free fluid collection is indicative of fetal pleural effusion.
Fetal pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid in the pleural space that surrounds the lungs during intrauterine development. This condition can develop independently or as part of a larger group of prenatal abnormalities and syndromes. Fetal pleural effusion has multiple origins, which can be genetic, developmental, or acquired.
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