The Application of Microscopy and Other Imaging Techniques to the Study of Disease in the Fetus.

Extract

The application of both classical and advanced microscopy to the exploration of abnormal, human, fetal development (birth defects) and to other forms of human, fetal disease has generated a wealth of information, often documented by dramatic images. We have studied, at varying levels of inquiry (simple inspection to molecular analysis), some 10,000 normal and abnormal specimens. For presentation purposes, we first demonstrate the use of imaging in explorations of the fetal habitat (the gestational sac). Our studies reveal a variety of fetal surface encounter lesions (skin-to-amnion). Many of these lesions in the past have been erroneously interpreted. These include fetal amputations, strangulations, and also the reimplantation of amputated parts to ectopic sites. We have also explored, by various imaging techniques, developmental abnormalities within a variety of fetal organs.