Intraabdominal umbilical vein dilatation and term delivery. A case report and review of the literature.

Dilatation of the fetal umbilical vein is a rare, most commonly isolated finding. Approximately 100 cases have been reported in the literature that describe different management approaches, especially regarding the time of delivery. We present a new case of umbilical vein dilatation diagnosed at 23 weeks' gestation as an isolated sonographic finding, in a fetus with short umbilical cord, delivered at 38 weeks' gestation. The clinical and sonographic features as well as the management options of this uncommon condition are shortly discussed. Copyright 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.