Absent fetal stomach on ultrasound (differential)

Non-visualization of the fetal stomach on ultrasound can occur with various physiological as well as pathological processes. It becomes a significant sonographic observation >14 weeks of gestation (about the time the fetus begins to swallow).

Causes include:

• physiological emptying: transient
• lack of amniontic fluid to swallow
  • oligohydramnios and its various causes
  • anhydramnios and its various causes
• impaired fetal swallowing
  • certain forms of esophageal atresia: particularly those without a tracheo-esophageal fistula
  • obstructing oropharyngeal mass 
    • cervical teratoma
    • epignathus
  • CNS abnormalities
  • facial clefts
  • neuromuscular disorders
• microgastria
• congenital diaphragmatic herniation: fetal stomach may be absent in an axial ultrasound scan - standard view due to migration into the thorax

If there is non-visualization of the fetal stomach >18 weeks, there is an 85% chance of an abnormality.

See also

• non-visualization of the fetal gallbladder on ultrasound (differential)

Siehe auch:

• non visualisation of the fetal gallbladder