ADVANCED ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY >

2025 , Vol. 9 >Issue 2: 181 - 188

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37015/AUDT.2025.240019

Original Research

Ultrasonographic Characteristics and Outcomes of Fetal Umbilical-portal-systemic Venous Shunts: A Single-center Study

  • Liu Jianjun ,
  • Zhang Jun ,
  • Xue Yafang ,
  • Chen Ying ,
  • Qiu Mei ,
  • Guo Yanli
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  • Department of Ultrasound, Southwest Hospital, Army Military Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
First author contact:

1Jianjun Liu and Jun Zhang contributed equally to this study.

Department of Ultrasound, Southwest Hospital, Army Military Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China. e-mail: guoyanli@tmmu.edu.cn

Received date: 2024-10-24

  Revised date: 2024-05-31

  Accepted date: 2024-11-01

  Online published: 2025-07-06

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Abstract

Objective: To investigate the ultrasonographic characteristics and outcomes of fetal umbilical-portal-systemic venous shunts (UPSVS).

Methods: UPSVS cases at a single center between January 2015 and December 2022 were retrospectively investigated. The ultrasonographic features, types, and postnatal outcomes of fetal UPSVS were analyzed and the outcomes were followed up on. The study was approved by our institutional review board (Approval Number KY2021130).

Results: Forty UPSVS cases, including 4 Type I, 18 Type II, and 18 Type III (16 with IIIa and 2 with IIIb) were identified. Two Type I cases were terminated because of the complete absence of the portal venous (PV) system. Genetic assessment revealed that one patient with Type I had a q22.11 deletion in trisomy 21. Type II is characterized by structural malformations, particularly cardiovascular abnormalities. Couples opted for pregnancy termination in four cases of Type II. The most common anomaly in Type III shunts was cardiac enlargement, followed by fetal growth restriction. Pregnancy was terminated in six cases of Type IIIa as requested by the couples, one resulting from premature birth, and two because of the completely absent PV system. Genetic tests showed that trisomy X had a microduplication in one patient. The shunt spontaneously closed after birth in all Type IIIa cases.

Conclusions: Prenatal diagnosis of UPSVS using ultrasonography is feasible and valuable for perinatal management and prenatal consultation. The fetal postnatal prognosis is determined by the presence of anomalies in the PV system, genetics, or structure.

Key words： Fetus; Portal vein; Shunt; Prenatal ultrasound

Cite this article

Liu Jianjun , Zhang Jun , Xue Yafang , Chen Ying , Qiu Mei , Guo Yanli . Ultrasonographic Characteristics and Outcomes of Fetal Umbilical-portal-systemic Venous Shunts: A Single-center Study[J]. ADVANCED ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY, 2025 , 9(2) : 181 -188 . DOI: 10.37015/AUDT.2025.240019

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