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Diagnostics
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Advances in Ultrasound Diagnosis in Maternal Fetal Medicine Practice
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Advances in Ultrasound Diagnosis in Maternal Fetal Medicine Practice

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 5584

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kwok-yin Leung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
2. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: prenatal diagnosis; obstetric ultrasound; 3D/4D ultrasound
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ka-Wang Cheung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Obstertrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: prevention of preterm birth; hepatitis B in pregnancy; stillbirth
Dr. Lau Wai-Lam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Interests: labour ward management; intrapartum ultrasound

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The World Health Organization has called for efforts to end preventable newborn deaths, stillbirths and maternal death. To prevent these deaths, obstetric ultrasound, among other interventions, is useful at various stages of pregnancy from the first trimester, mid-trimester, and third trimester to peripartum. Recent advances in evidence-based obstetric ultrasound applications and technologies are helpful for improving pregnancy outcomes.

We propose a Special Issue focusing on the recent advances in obstetric ultrasound related to maternal fetal medicine practice.

We invite submissions on the following topics:

  • Early and improved ultrasound diagnosis of obstetric disorders, including small for gestational age/fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, fetal anomalies, labor dystocia, vasa previa, perinatal asphyxia, pre-eclampsia, infection, placenta accreta spectrum disorders and twin complications.
  • Advancements in ultrasound technology, including 2D image resolution, color Doppler, 3D/4D imaging and artificial intelligence to enhance diagnostic performance.
  • Integration of genetics and ultrasonography in improving prenatal diagnosis.

Original articles, short communications, case reports, review articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the above topics are all welcome.

Our objective is to improve the standard of obstetric ultrasound in maternal fetal medicine practice and hence improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Dr. Kwok-yin Leung
Dr. Ka-Wang Cheung
Dr. Lau Wai-Lam
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • obstetric ultrasound
  • placenta
  • fetal abnormalities
  • color doppler

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 632 KB  
Article
Predictive Accuracy of Ultrasound Biometry and Maternal Factors in Identifying Large-for-Gestational-Age Neonates at 30–34 Weeks
by Vasileios Bais, Antigoni Tranidou, Antonios Siargkas, Sofoklis Stavros, Anastasios Potiris, Dimos Sioutis, Chryssi Christodoulaki, Apostolos Athanasiadis, Apostolos Mamopoulos, Ioannis Tsakiridis and Themistoklis Dagklis
Diagnostics 2026, 16(2), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020187 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 30
Abstract
Background/Objectives: To construct and compare multivariable prediction models for the early prediction of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates, using ultrasound biometry and maternal characteristics. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from singleton pregnancies that underwent routine ultrasound examinations at 30+0–34+0 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: To construct and compare multivariable prediction models for the early prediction of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates, using ultrasound biometry and maternal characteristics. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from singleton pregnancies that underwent routine ultrasound examinations at 30+0–34+0 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound parameters included fetal abdominal circumference (AC), head circumference (HC), femur length (FL), HC-to-AC ratio, mean uterine artery pulsatility index (mUtA-PI), and presence of polyhydramnios. LGA neonates were defined as those having a birthweight > 90th percentile. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between ultrasound markers and LGA after adjusting for the following maternal and pregnancy-related covariates: maternal age, body mass index, parity, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pre-existing diabetes, previous cesarean section (PCS), assisted reproductive technology (ART) use, smoking, hypothyroidism, and chronic hypertension. Associations were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Three prognostic models were developed utilizing the following predictors: (i) biometric ultrasound measurements including AC, HC-to-AC ratio, FL, UtA-PI, and polyhydramnios (Model 1), (ii) a combination of biometric ultrasound measurements and clinical–maternal data (Model 2), and (iii) only the estimated fetal weight (EFW) (Model 3). Results: In total, 3808 singleton pregnancies were included in the analyses. The multivariable analysis revealed that AC (aOR 1.07, 95% CI [1.06, 1.08]), HC to AC (aOR 1.01, 95% CI [1.006, 1.01]), FL (aOR 1.01, 95% CI [1.009, 1.01]), and the presence of polyhydramnios (aOR 4.97, 95% CI [0.7, 58.8]) were associated with an increased risk of LGA, while a higher mUtA-PI was associated with a reduced risk (aOR 0.98, 95% CI [0.98, 0.99]). Maternal parameters, such as GDM, pre-existing diabetes, elevated pre-pregnancy BMI, absence of uterine artery notching, mUtA-PI, and multiparity, were significantly higher in the LGA group. Both models 1 and 2 showed similar performance (AUCs: 84.7% and 85.3%, respectively) and outperformed model 3 (AUC: 77.5%). Bootstrap and temporal validation indicated minimal overfitting and stable model performance, while decision curve analysis supported potential clinical utility. Conclusions: Models using biometric and Doppler ultrasound at 30–34 weeks demonstrated good discriminative ability for predicting LGA neonates, with an AUC up to 84.7%. Adding maternal characteristics did not significantly improve performance, while the biometric model performed better than EFW alone. Sensitivity at conventional thresholds was low but increased substantially when lower probability cut-offs were applied, illustrating the model’s threshold-dependent flexibility for early risk stratification in different clinical screening needs. Although decision curve analysis was performed to explore potential clinical utility, external validation and prospective assessment in clinical settings are still needed to confirm generalizability and to determine optimal decision thresholds for clinical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ultrasound Diagnosis in Maternal Fetal Medicine Practice)
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Review

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13 pages, 251 KB  
Review
Ultrasound Assessment Before Complex or Difficult Cesarean Section
by Kwok-yin Leung
Diagnostics 2026, 16(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020178 - 6 Jan 2026
Viewed by 148
Abstract
Complex or difficult cesareans are associated with significant short- and long-term complications. The complication rate increases with the increasing number of cesareans, and the incidence of cesarean section is increasing. To accurately identify women at high risk of surgical difficulty during a cesarean, [...] Read more.
Complex or difficult cesareans are associated with significant short- and long-term complications. The complication rate increases with the increasing number of cesareans, and the incidence of cesarean section is increasing. To accurately identify women at high risk of surgical difficulty during a cesarean, ultrasound, in addition to clinical assessment, can be used to evaluate many risk factors, including placenta previa, placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders, fibroids, severe pelvic adhesions, and membranous fetal vessels. The role of preoperative ultrasound is to identify ultrasonographic signs of anatomic changes that may affect the risk of intraoperative complications in subsequent cesarean sections. It is important to look for maternal problems as well as fetal problems. Ultrasound is a well-established practice in obstetrical care as it is easily available, accessible, easy to perform, and well accepted by women. However, there are few studies on the role of preoperative ultrasound in the management of complex or difficult cesareans beyond the risk assessment of PAS. Currently, preoperative ultrasound is mostly performed in selected cases only, with the exception in some settings. The aim of this review article is to discuss the benefits and the use of ultrasound assessment before different types of complex or difficult cesareans. Whether ultrasound assessment should be performed before all cesarean sections will also be discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ultrasound Diagnosis in Maternal Fetal Medicine Practice)
18 pages, 5485 KB  
Review
Unilateral Renal Agenesis: Prenatal Diagnosis and Postnatal Issues
by Waldo Sepulveda, Amy E. Wong, Gabriele Tonni, Gianpaolo Grisolia and Angela C. Ranzini
Diagnostics 2025, 15(13), 1572; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15131572 - 20 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5104
Abstract
Unilateral renal agenesis (URA) is a urinary tract congenital anomaly characterized by a congenital absence or early developmental arrest of only one kidney. In the presence of a normal contralateral kidney, URA is typically considered a condition of minimal clinical significance as the [...] Read more.
Unilateral renal agenesis (URA) is a urinary tract congenital anomaly characterized by a congenital absence or early developmental arrest of only one kidney. In the presence of a normal contralateral kidney, URA is typically considered a condition of minimal clinical significance as the solitary kidney often undergoes hypertrophy and can sufficiently perform the needed renal function after birth. However, postnatal studies suggest that URA has a significant association with other urinary and extra-urinary anomalies and may have implications for long-term health. This descriptive review focuses on the perinatal aspects of URA, emphasizing the main ultrasound findings to establish the prenatal diagnosis and to guide perinatal management. The pediatric implications of this diagnosis, particularly the high prevalence of long-term complications including hypertension, proteinuria, and a decreased glomerular filtration rate, are also briefly reviewed. URA is consistently associated with other ipsilateral urogenital anomalies. In females, there is a significant association with uterine anomalies that has significant implications for subsequent reproductive function. In males, the prevalence of both urinary and genital anomalies is also increased, which may also have implications for future fertility. Prenatal ultrasound offers the possibility of early diagnosis and parental counseling, which may result in timely intervention to reduce contralateral renal damage, prevent severe urogenital manifestations and co-morbidities, and improve fertility and the quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ultrasound Diagnosis in Maternal Fetal Medicine Practice)
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