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Issues in Fetal Medicine pp 69–81Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Clinical Methods of Prenatal Diagnosis

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Part of the book series: Studies in Biology, Economy and Society ((SBES))

Abstract

There are now available many methods of diagnosing fetal illness which range from simple clinical examination, through detailed anatomical examination to procedures directly accessing the fetus in utero. Diagnosis is no longer confined to structural abnormality but can include the diagnosis of infection, anaemia or starvation. However, because of the unique situation of the fetus, there are three major problems specific to fetal diagnosis. First, there are problems of adequate visualisation, making diagnostic accuracy less certain than in paediatrics. Secondly, there is the problem of obtaining normal ranges for fetal variables, since the normal fetus is rarely sampled. Thirdly, and uniquely, simple procedures such as obtaining fetal urine or blood actually carry a risk of death to the fetus.

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Authors
  1. Stephen A. Walkinshaw
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, UK

    S. L. Barron (Emeritus Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist) (Emeritus Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist)

  2. Royal Victorian Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    S. L. Barron (Emeritus Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist) (Emeritus Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist)

  3. University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    D. F. Roberts (Emeritus Professor of Human Genetics) (Emeritus Professor of Human Genetics)

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© 1995 The Galton Institute

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Walkinshaw, S.A. (1995). Clinical Methods of Prenatal Diagnosis. In: Barron, S.L., Roberts, D.F. (eds) Issues in Fetal Medicine. Studies in Biology, Economy and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-23812-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-23812-5_5

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-23814-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-23812-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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