Ultrasonographic visualisation of detached amnion causing amniotic disruption and fetal abnormality

Summary

Ultrasound examination at 19 weeks disclosed a membrane in the amniotic cavity along with a single fetus and a single placenta. A small-for-dates female baby with signs of amniotic disruption was delivered at term. There was chronic inflammation of the placenta. This presumably caused both the amniotic rupture and the severe intra-uterine growth deficit. If ultrasound examination reveals a membrane in the amniotic cavity, the possibility of amniotic rupture should be considered, and a thorough ultrasound examination of the fetus for signs of the amniotic disruption sequence should be conducted.