Fetal autopsy for the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia and comparison with prenatal ultrasound findings over a 16-year period.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the relationship between prenatal ultrasonography (USG) and fetal autopsy findings.

METHODS

Among 453 pregnancy terminations performed because of fetal anomalies on prenatal USG, 54 with skeletal dysplasia on fetal autopsy were included in this retrospective study.

RESULTS

The most common diagnoses among the 54 fetal autopsies were osteogenesis imperfecta (n=12), dysostosis (n=10), achondroplasia (n=9), arthrogryposis (n=6), and thanatophoric dysplasia (n=6). The prenatal USG and fetal autopsy findings showed complete agreement in 35 cases (64.8%), partial agreement in nine cases (16.6%), and disagreement in 10 cases (18.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal autopsy via perinatal pathology is essential for precise identification of the type of skeletal dysplasia; it should be routinely performed to confirm the diagnosis of prenatally detected fetal anomalies. Autopsy is vital for accurate prenatal diagnosis and the 'gold standard' technique for the identification of clinically important abnormalities.