Fanny Sauvestre

Pathological Findings in Feto-maternal Hemorrhage.

Feto-maternal hemorrhage (FMH) is the cause of late fetal death in 1.6%–11% of cases. In spite of this high frequency, its pathological features have received little attention. The definitive diagnosis of lethal FMH requires confirmation of sufficient fetal blood volume loss. This is determined by tests such as the Kleihauer-Betke test, which may not have been obtained or not have been available before the autopsy. The pathologist may offer a tentative diagnosis of FMH from the autopsy findings. The objective of this study was to better characterize the placental and fetal autopsy findings in lethal FMH. This was a retrospective study of 17 cases of FMH proven by a positive Kleihauer-Betke test. The cases were selected from the autopsy files of the Department of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux. The pathological reports as well as the placental and fetal photographs and the microscopic slides of each case were systematically reviewed. The fetal autopsy findings in FMH are characterized by a eutrophic pale macerated fetus, low liver weight, absent intrathoracic petechiae, increased extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver and kidney, and increased circulating nucleated red blood cells. The placenta shows an increased frequency of intervillous thrombi. Although nonpathognomonic, some of the pathological features are strongly suggestive of FMH. When the latter is present, a Kleihauer-Betke test should be performed, even some days after the delivery.

In utero seizures revealing dentato-olivary dysplasia caused by SCN2A mutation

Most early-onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEE) are caused by genetic defects. In the past, mutations, especially in genes encoding sodium channels, have been identified using linkage studies, array-CGH and more recently next-generation sequencing (NGS) [1]. Mutations in SCN2A gene have been identified in a wide variety of early-onset epileptic syndromes including benign familial neonatal infantile seizures (BFNIS) [2] and more severe forms leading to encephalopathy such as Ohtahara or West syndromes [3], epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS) [4] and autism spectrum disorders [5]. In 2013, mutations in SCN2A gene were reported with dentato-olivary dysplasia (DOD) in a single family [6] but the link between DOD and severe EOEE needs to be confirmed [6]. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Early fetal presentation of Koolen-de Vries: Case report with literature review

Koolen-de Vries syndrome (MIM#610443) is a rare microdeletion syndrome involving the 17q21.31 region, which was first described by Koolen in 2006. Clinical and behavioral characteristics have been extensively reported from more than 100 postnatal cases including infants, children and young adults. The syndrome is highly clinically heterogeneous, but the main features associate characteristic cranio-facial dysmorphism, heart defects, limb, skeletal, genito-urinary anomalies, along with intellectual disability with early childhood epilepsy and behavioral disturbances. Central nervous system malformations usually consist in hydrocephalus and thin corpus callosum. We report herein an early fetal case with an apparently isolated abnormal corpus callosum diagnosed by ultrasonography, for which a medical termination of the pregnancy was achieved at 22 weeks of gestation. Postmortem examination displayed facial dysmorphism consisting of hypertelorism, short philtrum and flat and broad nose, cleft palate and left duplex ureter. Neuropathological examination revealed a mega corpus callosum that has never been reported so far in this syndrome. Array-CGH performed on thymic DNA tissue revealed a 17q21.31 microdeletion, which allowed for the confirmation of early occurring Koolen-de Vries syndrome.

Prenatal Testicular Torsion: Not Always in the Late Third Trimester

Prenatal testicular torsion is a very rare morbid entity, described in the literature to occur when the testicle is intrascrotal, around the 34th week of gestation. Here we report a case of early testicular necrosis. This male fetus was the product of a medical abortion at 27 weeks. During evisceration, a left testicular nubbin free in the peritoneal cavity was found. Histologically, it was extensively necrotic. Because of the location, the size, and the histological features of this necrotic testicle, we conclude that it was the result of torsion of the pedicle that occurred around the 20th week of pregnancy.