Two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography for pregnancy diagnosis and antenatal fetal development in Beetal goats

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this study was to compare two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) study of the pregnant uterus and antenatal development of the fetus.

Materials and methods: 2D and 3D ultrasound were performed from day 20 to 120 of gestation, twice in week from day 20 to 60 and once in week from day 60 to 120 of gestation on six goats. The ultrasonographic images were obtained using Toshiba, Nemio-XG (Japan) 3D ultrasound machine.

Results: On the 20(th) day of gestation, earliest diagnosis of pregnancy was done. First 3D ultrasonographic image of the conceptus, through transabdominal approach, was obtained on day 24. On 39(th) day, clear pictures of conceptus, amniotic membrane, and umbilicus were seen. On 76(th) day of gestation, internal organs of fetus viz heart, kidney, liver, urinary bladder, and stomach were seen both in 2D and 3D images. 3D imaging showed better details of uterine structures and internal organs of the fetus.

Conclusions: Comparing 3D images with 2D images, it is concluded that 2D was better in visualizing fluid while 3D images were better to view details of attachment of fetus with endometrium.

Keywords: fetal development; goats; pregnancy; three-dimensional; two-dimensional; ultrasonography.

Figure-1

Typical images of fetal development from day 20 to day 60. (a). Trans-rectal ultra-sonogram of uterus of goats at day 20 of gestation with a 7.5 MHz trans-rectal transducer showed accumulation of anechoic fluid (blue arrow) in uterus, (b). Embryo proper was seen as elongated structure with tapering edge (indicating by green arrow) on one side of uterine lumen at day 24 of gestation, (c). Pregnant uterine horn at 24^th day of gestation towards cranial side of urinary bladder and tri-segmented fetus, (d). Trans-rectal ultra-sonogram of uterus of a goat at day 30 showing oblong shaped fetus (blue arrow) in uterine lumen towards cranial side of urinary bladder, (e). 3D ultra scan recorded at day 35 of pregnancy showing elongated conceptus (blue arrow) and urinary bladder (green arrow) of a goat, (f). Trans-rectal ultra-sonogram of uterus of a goat at day 35 showing accumulated large amount of fluid (blue arrow) at day 35 in uterine horns and presence of conceptus (green arrow), (g). Conceptus (blue arrow) showing attachment to one side of endometrium (red arrow) and hyperechoic amniotic membrane (green arrow) surrounding the fetus on day 39, (h). Image of fetus (green arrow) shows its presence in uterine lumen and endometrium (white arrow) was visible on day 39, (i). Head (green arrow), eyes (red arrow), nose (blue arrow) and fetal trunk (white arrow) are visible on day 42 of gestation., (j). Head (blue arrow), ear pinna (red arrow), forelimbs (green arrow), placenta (white arrow) and fetal trunk (yellow arrow) in 3D ultrasonic scan of fetus on day 42, (k). On day 48, eye ball (green arrow), forelimbs (red arrow) and fetal trunk (blue arrow) are seen. (l). 3D ultra-sonogram on day 48, using volumetric 4D trans-abdominal probe with 5.0 MHz transducer. Fetus (green arrow), endometrium (white arrow) and concave shaped depression (cotyledon) indicating by red arrow are seen in this image, (m). 3D scanning shows that fetus is surrounds by placenta and small raised structure was present on the placenta (shown by green arrow), (n). Full view of placentomes, which were ‘O shaped’ (blue arrow) with central depression surrounding a raised portion (day 54), (o). 3D (top view) scan of fetal body along with attachment of membrane and endometrium (green arrow) at day 60 of gestation.

Figure-2

Fetal development from day 60 to day 120: (a) On day 76 of gestation, heart (green arrow), stomach (blue arrow) and urinary bladder (red arrow) showing in 3D ultra sonogram. Cotyledon are seen as ‘C’ shaped (white arrow), (b) Liver (blue arrow), Kidney (red arrow) and stomach (green arrow at day 98 of gestation (c) Liver (green arrow), gall bladder (red arrow) and parts of stomach (blue arrow) at day 82 of gestation in 2D image, (d) On day 105 blobbed hyper echoic genital tubercle (blue arrow), pendulous scrotum (green arrow), umbilicus (red arrow), umbilical well (white arrow), tail (violet arrow) and urinary bladder (yellow arrow), (e) Stomach with echogenic particles (blue arrow) and kidney (red arrow) is visible in 2D ultra-sonogram at day 120 of pregnancy, (f) Liver (blue arrow), gall bladder (red arrow), stomach (green arrow) and hepatic vessel in 2D ultra sonogram at day 120 of pregnancy, (g) Blobbed stomach (blue arrow) of fetus in 3D ultra sonogram at day 120 of gestation.