Umbilical Vein Varix





KEY FACTS


Terminology





  • Several definitions in use




    • Focal dilatation of umbilical vein (UV) > 9-mm diameter



    • Varix diameter 50% > intrahepatic portion of UV



    • UV diameter > 2 standard deviations above mean for gestational age




Imaging





  • Cyst-like space in upper abdomen with venous flow on Doppler



  • Usually intraabdominal, extrahepatic




    • May be intrahepatic or even in free loops of cord




  • Cord umbilical vein varix (UVV) is diagnosis of chance, as hard to systematically run length of cord in mobile fetus




    • Rupture of UVV in free loops may → fetal exsanguination




Top Differential Diagnoses





  • Abdominal cysts (none show internal blood flow)




    • Choledochal cyst



    • Meconium pseudocyst



    • Ovarian cyst



    • Enteric duplication cyst



    • Urachal cyst




  • Umbilical cord cysts (flow in surrounding umbilical vessels, not in cyst)



Scanning Tips





  • If UVV seen, perform detailed anatomic survey




    • ~ 35% have other anomalies



    • Cardiovascular, renal most common




  • Formal fetal echocardiogram as UVV may be 1st manifestation of elevated venous pressures



  • Monitor for signs of impending hydrops



  • Monitor varix size, presence of thrombus



  • Monitor fetal growth




    • Increase surveillance if fetal growth restriction develops








Axial color Doppler US shows complete filling of a 13-mm umbilical vein varix (UVV) . The swirling color is a manifestation of eddying flow as the blood from the normal-caliber umbilical vein enters the varix. Whether or not the degree of turbulence in the varix can be characterized by color Doppler is debatable.








This case shows incomplete filling of a UVV due to partial thrombosis with clot filling ~ 1/2 of the varix. This occurred at 37 weeks and 1 day. The infant was delivered by cesarean section and did well.

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Nov 10, 2024 | Posted by in ULTRASONOGRAPHY | Comments Off on Umbilical Vein Varix

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