Four-dimensional sonographic assessment of inter-twin contact late in the first trimester
Received 15 July 2009; received in revised form 2 September 2009; accepted 19 October 2009. published online 26 November 2009.
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the total number of inter-twin contacts between monochorionic diamniotic (MD) and dichorionic diamniotic (DD) twins using four-dimensional (4D) sonography late in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Method
Six MD and 8 DD pregnancies were studied for 30minutes with 4D sonography at 10–11 and 12–13weeks of gestation. A total of 10 types of inter-twin contact was evaluated.
Results
There was a significant difference in the total number of all contacts between MD and DD twins at the 10–11weeks of gestation (P<0.05). There was also a significant difference in the total number of contacts between 10–11 and 12–13weeks of gestation in DD twins (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Four-dimensional sonography provides a means of evaluating inter-twin contact in the first trimester of pregnancy and could be an accurate and reliable tool in studies of inter-twin behavior.
aDepartment of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan
bDepartment of Maternity Health Nursing, Kagawa University School of Nursing, Kagawa, Japan
Corresponding author. Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan. Tel.: +81 87 891 2174; fax: +81 87 891 2175.
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