SONOWORLD : fetal gallstones

Username

Password

189,629 Registered Members as of 11/30/2021.

JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Sonoworld.com in standard view. However, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser. To use standard view, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options, then try again.

Obstetrics » Obstetrics 2nd And 3rd Trimester

39 week gestation with fetal gallstones

« Back to Listing

Author(s) :

G. William Shepherd, PhD, RDMS, RVT

Presentation A patient came in for a biophysical profile. She had a failed non-stress test. She is 29 years old and is morbidly obese. This is her first pregnancy. Other than her obesity she has no other risk factors.

Caption: Image of fetal abdomen in a transaxial scanning plane

Description:

Caption: Image of fetal abdomen with area to be magnified indicated

Description:

Caption: Magnified area of the fetal abdomen

Description:

Differential Diagnosis Liver calcifications.

Final Diagnosis There are two 2-3mm fetal gallstones.

Discussion

Fetal gallstones are a rare occurrence. They tend to occur in the third trimester. Their cause is unknown but may be related in some cases to maternal anemia or placental abruptions (1,2). This author has seen four cases of fetal gallstones and three of the patients underwent amniocentesis.

This present case was a late registration and it is unknown whether there was a placental hemorrhage earlier in the pregnancy. The patient denies any vaginal bleeding during the course of the pregnancy and she was not anemic nor did she undergo amniocentesis.

Some fetal gallstones may disappear during the course of the pregnancy and others disappear shortly after delivery. They may simply pass through the bile duct and into the duodenum or they may dissolve perhaps due to a difference in the chemical properties of fetal bile as compared to adult bile.

Fetal gallstones are a benign finding and pose no risk to the fetus or neonate. It important to distinguish fetal gallstones from liver calcifications, since liver calcifications may herald the presence of an infection or tumor.

Case References

1. Brown DL, Teele RL, Doubilet PM, et al. Echogenic material in the fetal gallbladder: sonographic and clinical observations. Radiology 1992; 182:73-76.

2. Klingensmith WC, Cioffi-Ragan DT. Fetal gallstones. Radiology 1988; 167:143-144.

Other contents by this AuthorOther Cases in This Category

Obstetrics >> Obstetrics 2nd And 3rd Trimester

Placenta previa
Because the patient reported intermittent vaginal bleeding, a sonogram was performed in the second trimester of this pregnancy.

Succenturiate lobe of placenta
This sonogram was performed in the second trimester for the purpose of determining gestational age and screening for anomalies.

Fetal bronchopulmonary sequestration with cystic adenomatoid malformation
This is a 30 year old female who presented to the ultrasound unit at a gestational age of 18.5 menstrual weeks with diamniotic, dichorionic twins. Her past history was remarkable for a prior ...

Idiopathic infantile arterial calcification
This is a 35 year old G4P2 patient whose previous child was stillborn due to non-immune hydrops. During the current pregnancy, she had an ultrasound at 20 weeks, showing a normal fetal survey. ...

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease
A 29 year old woman, G1, P0, A0 presented for antenatal ultrasound. The gestational age of the fetus at the time of examination was 30w 3d.

Antenatal cystic hygroma
A 25 year old woman referred for gestational age assessment.

Gastroschisis
This is a routine second trimester antenatal ultrasound that was performed at 14 weeks gestational age.

Prenatal detection of cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung
This is a routine antenatal scan at 22 weeks of gestation.

Thanatophoric dysplasia, third trimester
This 18 year old woman, primigravida, presented for a routine antenatal scan at 31 weeks of gestation. She has no significant past medical history.

Bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate
A woman presented for a routine second trimester antenatal scan.

Anencephaly
A 21 year old woman, primigravida, presented for routine antenatal ultrasound.

Umbilical vein varix
A 26 year old primigravida presented for a routine third trimester ultrasound. Fetal gestational age corresponded to 34 weeks.

Intracranial arteriovenous malformation with cardiomegaly
This is a routine asymptomatic third trimester ultrasound.

Pregnancy in a uterus with synechia
These are serial scans of a 32-year-old pregnant woman with a history of prior C-section.

Cord around the neck of the fetus
A young woman presented for routine obstetric scan.

Cystic hygroma with hydrops
This is the fetal scan in a woman who presented for a routine second trimester antenatal ultrasound examination at 20 weeks of gestation.

Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome
This is the ultrasound in a 32-year-old gravida at 34 weeks of gestation. She had an ultrasound performed outside of our hospital which showed macrosomia.

Fetal hydrops
A woman presented for routine second trimester antenatal ultrasound

Osteogenesis Imperfecta with Agenesis of Corpus Callosum
A 23 years old primagravida presented for routine sonographic scan with no significant complaints. According to the patient, menstrual age was approximately 30 weeks.

Fetal Spongiform Myocardium
A 32 year old gravida 1, para 1 female came for her 1st ultrasound at 28 weeks of gestation. The fetus had a normal anatomic survey except for the appearance of the heart.

Split hand and foot syndrome

multicystic Dysplastic Kidney
This was a 2nd trimester scan to corfirm dates. There were no risk factors. The mother was 26 years old with a previous normal pregnancy.

Succenturiate Lobe of Placenta
Primigravida with 20 wks gestation came for a routine scan.

Vein of Galen Aneurysm with Hydrocephalus
Routine third trimester scan.