Embryonic and fetal tiny pericardial fluid collections at less than 12 weeks of gestation

Toshiyuki Hata; Tomomi Kawahara; Takahito Miyake

doi:10.1515/jpm-2023-0053

Article

Embryonic and fetal tiny pericardial fluid collections at less than 12 weeks of gestation

Toshiyuki Hata , Tomomi Kawahara and Takahito Miyake

Published/Copyright: July 13, 2023

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From the journal Journal of Perinatal Medicine Volume 51 Issue 9

Abstract

Objectives

To describe embryonic and fetal tiny pericardial fluid collections (PFCs) using transvaginal sonography and HDlive Silhouette at less than 12 weeks of gestation.

Methods

During an 8-month period from November 2021 to June 2022, one-hundred and thirty transvaginal scans were performed for first-trimester dating, and eleven tiny PFCs of the embryo or fetus were identified at 8+4 – 11+3 weeks of gestation (three at 8, six at 9, and two at 11 weeks). HDlive Silhouette features of PFC were evaluated. Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were also investigated.

Results

The incidence of tiny PFCs was 8.5 % at less than 12 weeks of gestation. The mean gestational age at the initial examination was 9.5 weeks (SD: ± 0.9). The mean crown-rump length was 25.0 mm (SD: ± 8.5). The mean PFC dimension was 0.8 mm (range: 0.5–1.3, SD: ± 0.2). Pleural effusion was associated with 3 out of 11 PFCs (27.2 %). Ascites was noted in 2 cases (18.2 %). Skin edema was identified in only in 1 case (0.09 %). There was no arrhythmia. Tiny PFC could also be depicted using HDlive Silhouette. First-trimester fetal ultrasound scans at 11 – 13+6 weeks showed no abnormal findings. PFCs resolved until 13 weeks of gestation (Mean: 12 weeks, SD: ± 1.2). All PFC pregnancies resulted in healthy neonates.

Conclusions

The incidence of tiny PFCs was relatively high in early pregnancy. HDlive Silhouette can depict tiny PFCs of the embryo. Tiny PFCs in early gestation are transient, benign findings in utero.

Keywords: early first trimester; embryo; fetus; HDlive Silhouette; pericardial fluid collection

Corresponding author: Toshiyuki Hata, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Miyake Clinic, 369-8 Ofuku, Minami-ku, Okayama 701-0204, Japan; and Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University Graduate School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan, E-mail: hata.toshiyuki@kagawa-u.ac.jp

Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: TH: study design and coordination, supervision of the study, acquisition and validation of the data, analyze and interpretation of the data, and writing of the manuscript. TK: study design and coordination, and acquisition and validation of the data. TM: study design and coordination, and supervision of the study.
Competing interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: All participants provided informed consent after a full explanation of the aim of the study.
Ethical approval: The study was conducted following approval by the Ethics Committee of Miyake Clinic.

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Received: 2023-02-05

Accepted: 2023-06-04

Published Online: 2023-07-13

Published in Print: 2023-11-27

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2023-0053

Keywords for this article

early first trimester; embryo; fetus; HDlive Silhouette; pericardial fluid collection