* Department of Gynecology, Felix Guyon Hospital, 97400 Saint- Denis, Ile de la Reunion, France; tel: 0262 90 55 22; fax : 0262 90 77 30;
** Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Editor, Translator, Novato, California.
Case report
A 35-year-old patient, G3P2, was referred to our clinic at 24 weeks GA after hyperechoic foci were seen in the liver on ultrasound. 13- and 22- week sonographic examinations had been unremarkable. At 13th week of gestational age the nuchal translucency was normal. At 17th week of gestational age, the triple test was normal as well. The 24-week ultrasound evaluation was unremarkable except for an echogenic mass in the liver (Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D). The viral serology was negative. Neither ascites nor hydrops were seen (Figures 2A, 2B). Upon sonographic re-evaluation at 34 and 36 week of pregnancy, the gallbladder appearance was normal (Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D), (Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D). At 39 weeks GA, a female infant weighing 3200 g was born with Apgar scores of 10, 10, and 10. There was no evidence of hematologic incompatibility, sepsis, or jaundice. All laboratory values including those for the cystic fibrosis gene, hemoglobinopathy, and liver function were normal. The viral serology was negative. On the fifth day of life, ultrasound was performed, showing a gallbladder of normal size and the isolated liver calcification.
Figures 1A, 1B. Transverse abdominal section at 24 weeks demonstrating a long, non-shadowing echogenic mass within the liver.