Abstract：Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of 3D ultrasound in estimating lung volume of fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia(CDH), and to determine their volume change by comparing with the normal fetuses. Methods: Fetal lung volumes were measured during 3D ultrasound examination using VOCAL technique in 10 cases with CDH, 1~3 days before termination. Postmortem autopsy was conducted within 6 hours after labor and the lung volume was achieved by water displacement. Using VOCAL technique, lung volumes were also measured in controls and compared with those in CDHs. Results: ①The correlation between measured volume by 3D ultrasound and postmortem examination was good, with correlation coefficient 0.79 in CDH fetuses. The mean bias, 95% limits of agreement were, －0.68cm3 and(－4.59~3.24)cm3, respectively. ②In fetuses with CDH, lung volumes were substantially lower than in normal fetuses. Conclusion: The lung volumes were significantly reduced in CDH fetuses, due to pulmonary compression. Prenatal 3D ultrasound can estimate accurately fetal lung volumes in CDHs, which may become a potential predictor for the degree of pulmonary hypoplasia.
2011, Vol. 22 
