Ultrasound features of fetal hydrops
Fetal hydrops is excessive fluid accumulation in the fetal body cavities and soft tissues that results in pericardial and pleural effusions, ascites, skin thickening, placental thickening, and polyhydramnios. Causes of fetal hydrops are defined as either immune or nonimmune. Immune hydrops due to maternal and fetus blood group incompatibility is now rare. Nonimmune etiologies include chromosomal anomalies, fetal anatomic defects including cardiac malformations, any mass obstructing venous return to the heart, and maternal-fetal infection.
