Severe fetal manifestation of hemifacial microsomia.

Hemifacial microsomia is a heterogenous complex lesion including predominantly unilateral face and head malformations mainly in the region of the first and second branchial arch, vertebral anomalies and varying accompanying malformations. A severe manifestation of this condition is demonstrated in a fetus by means of 5 mm thick sections of the whole head. Abortion had been induced because extreme microcephaly simulated fetal anencephaly in prenatal ultrasound examination. Alpha-Fetoprotein values were normal.