BMJ  2004;328 (17 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7432.0-a

Autopsies after termination provide vital information

Autopsy helps to refine the risk of subsequent fetal anomaly when prenatal diagnosis was based only on the ultrasound scan. Boyd and colleagues (p 137) analysed data on 57 258 deliveries from 1991 to 2000, and (from the Oxford congenital anomaly registry) identified 309 terminations for fetal anomaly. They found a decline in autopsies from 84% in 1991-5 to 67% in 1996-2000. In 27% of the cases without information of genetic anomaly before termination, autopsy gave important information and changed the estimated risk of recurrence. When parents without a previous genetic diagnosis decline autopsy, they may miss important information on risk of anomalies in future pregnancies.

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Autopsy after termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly: retrospective cohort study

P A Boyd, F Tondi, N R Hicks, and P F Chamberlain
BMJ 2004 328: 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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