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Diagnostic Radiology (Expert Forum)
18 week ultrasound shows right femur shorter than left
Questions in the Diagnostic Radiology forum cover topics including body imaging, bone scans, breast imaging, CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MRA, NMR, ultrasound, and x-rays.
18 week ultrasound shows right femur shorter than left
by marvin12, Nov 23, 2008 09:37AM
At our 18 week ultrasound, the right femur measured significantly shorther than than left but the doctor told us everything else looked "normal". She was not sure what this indicated and referred us to the genetics department. How serious is this? Is there a chance the right femur could "catch up" with the left?
Doctor's Answer
by Sumer K Sethi, MD, Jan 27, 2009 03:10AM
, Jan 27, 2009 03:10AMTo: marvin12
This can be Proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), which is an uncommon but complex problem. In general, in individuals with PFFD, the proximal femur is partially absent, and the entire limb is overall shortened. The etiology of PFFD is not known exactly, but certain theories have been proposed and agents implicated. Injury to the neural crest cells and injuries like anoxia, ischemia, irradiation, bacterial and viral infections and toxins, hormones, mechanical energy, and thermal injury. Surgical and treatment options are better discussed in pediatric forum or orthopedics.
