Slawomir Wozniak1, Jerzy Florjanski2, Henryk Kordecki3, Marzena Podhorska-Okolow4, Zygmunt Domagala5. 1. Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Division of Anatomy, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chalubinskiego 6a, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland. Electronic address: slawomir.wozniak@umed.wroc.pl. 2. 2nd Department and Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland. 3. Department of Control Systems and Mechatronics, ul. Janiszewskiego 11/17, Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland. 4. Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Division of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chalubinskiego 6a, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland. 5. Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Division of Anatomy, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chalubinskiego 6a, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound examinations during pregnancy are routine procedures used to detect fetal congenital malformations. Ultrasound monitoring of sigmoid colon mesenterial development could be useful for early detection of subjects at risk of sigmoid colon volvulus. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our paper was to assess the sigmoid colon length, and sigmoid colon mesentery width and height in the late fetal period, and, using the results, to estimate the surface area of the mesocolon (in mm2) in living fetuses. Moreover, we attempted to repeat some of these measurements in living fetuses using ultrasound imaging. METHODS: The study was carried out on 209 formalin fixed human fetuses (100 female and 109 male) aged from 4th to 7th gestational months (102-203 days), with a crown-rump length of 132-342mm. The length of the sigmoid colon, as well as the height and width of its mesentery were measured. The surface area of the mesocolon was estimated. Correction for formalin induced shrinkage was applied. Pilot ultrasound examinations of live fetuses were performed. RESULTS: Mean values of sigmoid colon length, mesenteric width and height (formalin fixed fetuses) for respective gestational ages were: month 4: 21.46±6.7mm, 6.80±2.1mm, 5.5±1.49mm; month 5: 27.32±1.2mm, 7.62±2.01mm, 7.33±2.17mm; month 6: 47.56±9.57mm, 11.68±3.8mm, 10.3±3.05mm; month 7: 56.92±17.48mm. 15.32±8 mm, 12.81±3.16mm. The surface area ranges of the sigmoid colon mesentery found for respective gestational months (intrauterine fetuses) were as follows: month 4: 33.24-51.95mm2; month 5: 49.63-77.6mm2; month 6: 106.89-167.15mm2 and month 7: 145.69-272.53mm2. CONCLUSION: The surface area of the sigmoid colon mesentery can be used as a simple parameter applied in fetal ultrasonographic evaluation. The development of the sigmoid colon accelerates in the 6th gestational month, and decelerates in the 7th gestational month. The sigmoid colon mesentery width was larger than its height between the 4th and 7th gestational months.
INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound examinations during pregnancy are routine procedures used to detect fetal congenital malformations. Ultrasound monitoring of sigmoid colon mesenterial development could be useful for early detection of subjects at risk of sigmoid colon volvulus. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our paper was to assess the sigmoid colon length, and sigmoid colon mesentery width and height in the late fetal period, and, using the results, to estimate the surface area of the mesocolon (in mm2) in living fetuses. Moreover, we attempted to repeat some of these measurements in living fetuses using ultrasound imaging. METHODS: The study was carried out on 209 formalin fixed human fetuses (100 female and 109 male) aged from 4th to 7th gestational months (102-203 days), with a crown-rump length of 132-342mm. The length of the sigmoid colon, as well as the height and width of its mesentery were measured. The surface area of the mesocolon was estimated. Correction for formalin induced shrinkage was applied. Pilot ultrasound examinations of live fetuses were performed. RESULTS: Mean values of sigmoid colon length, mesenteric width and height (formalin fixed fetuses) for respective gestational ages were: month 4: 21.46±6.7mm, 6.80±2.1mm, 5.5±1.49mm; month 5: 27.32±1.2mm, 7.62±2.01mm, 7.33±2.17mm; month 6: 47.56±9.57mm, 11.68±3.8mm, 10.3±3.05mm; month 7: 56.92±17.48mm. 15.32±8 mm, 12.81±3.16mm. The surface area ranges of the sigmoid colon mesentery found for respective gestational months (intrauterine fetuses) were as follows: month 4: 33.24-51.95mm2; month 5: 49.63-77.6mm2; month 6: 106.89-167.15mm2 and month 7: 145.69-272.53mm2. CONCLUSION: The surface area of the sigmoid colon mesentery can be used as a simple parameter applied in fetal ultrasonographic evaluation. The development of the sigmoid colon accelerates in the 6th gestational month, and decelerates in the 7th gestational month. The sigmoid colon mesentery width was larger than its height between the 4th and 7th gestational months.
Authors: Alicja Kędzia; Krzysztof Dudek; Marcin Ziajkiewicz; Michal Wolanczyk; Anna Seredyn; Wojciech Derkowski; Zygmunt Antoni Domagala Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-08-26 Impact factor: 3.752