DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION FOR IDENTIFYING CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IN FETUSES AND NEWBORNS

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound examination for identifying congenital anomalies of the digestive system among fetuses and newborns. The study was conducted as a prospective cohort study involving 298 pregnant women and their newborns. Prenatal ultrasound examinations were conducted at 18–22 and 30–34 weeks of gestation, while neonatal examinations were performed within the first 5 days of life. During the study, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the ultrasound examination were statistically evaluated. The results indicated that congenital anomalies of the digestive system were detected in 26 (8.7%) cases, with the ultrasound examination demonstrating a sensitivity of 80.8% and specificity of 95.9%. The combined application of prenatal and neonatal ultrasound examinations enabled an increase in overall diagnostic accuracy up to 93.5%. The results demonstrate that ultrasound examination is an effective diagnostic tool for early detection of congenital anomalies and confirm that its greatest diagnostic accuracy is achieved when utilized in combination during both prenatal and neonatal periods. Keywords: ultrasound examination, prenatal diagnosis, newborn, congenital anomaly, digestive system, diagnostic accuracy