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Examination of the Fetus Following Prenatal Suspicion of Congenital Abnormality

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Fetal and Neonatal Pathology

Abstract

When pregnancy terminates prematurely, either electively or spontaneously, following investigations for or diagnosis of fetal malformation, there are three aspects of the subsequent examination of the fetus which deserve special attention. The first is confirmation of the nature of the abnormality for which termination of pregnancy was undertaken. The second is careful scrutiny of the fetus, placenta and membranes for any abnormality which might be related to the preceding investigations. Both of these points merit attention; together they comprise the quality control of antenatal diagnosis of malformation and are an essential, but often neglected, part of the antenatal diagnostic facility. The third, and perhaps the most important reason for fetal examination, is the careful documentation of all abnormalities which are present. It is the combination of external dysmorphic features and internal abnormalities which may accompany the major system anomaly identified prenatally that allows precise recurrence rates to be calculated.

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  1. Jean W. Keeling
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Jean W. Keeling MB, BS, FRCPath (Consultant Paediatric Pathologist) (Consultant Paediatric Pathologist)

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Keeling, J.W. (1987). Examination of the Fetus Following Prenatal Suspicion of Congenital Abnormality. In: Keeling, J.W. (eds) Fetal and Neonatal Pathology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3523-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3523-4_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3525-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3523-4

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