The difference between 3D color ultrasound and 4D

As society develops faster and faster, medical levels are becoming more and more advanced, and many medical devices have been developed. Gynecological examinations have developed from early B-ultrasound to current color ultrasound, as well as three-dimensional color ultrasound and four-dimensional color ultrasound. Pregnant women will be asked to undergo four-dimensional color ultrasound during their physical examinations because it can clearly show the development of the fetus. Let me tell you what are the differences between 3D color Doppler ultrasound and 4D color Doppler ultrasound?

1. The effect is more accurate: Although three-dimensional color ultrasound and four-dimensional color ultrasound have the same function of ruling out fetal malformations, four-dimensional color ultrasound uses four-dimensional imaging technology, which is more intuitive, three-dimensional, and real-time to display and observe the dynamics of human organs, and perform continuous multi-dimensional scanning of the target object, observing the growth and development of the intrauterine fetus from multiple directions and angles. However, the results of three-dimensional color ultrasound examination are rather one-sided, so four-dimensional color ultrasound is more accurate in ruling out fetal malformations.

2. More dynamic and three-dimensional: Three-dimensional color ultrasound is static, while four-dimensional color ultrasound adds the time dimension on the basis of "two-dimensional" and "three-dimensional" to present dynamic three-dimensional images and increase dynamic observation of the fetus. Four-dimensional color ultrasound can display the color, face, and development of various organs of the fetus in three dimensions, and detect body structure abnormalities from multiple angles and directions of the fetus.

3. The image is clearer: Because four-dimensional color ultrasound is dynamic and three-dimensional color ultrasound is static, the four-dimensional image will appear clearer and can be made continuous like DV and can be burned into a CD. In general, the biggest difference between three-dimensional color ultrasound and four-dimensional color ultrasound is the existence of a time dimension. That is to say, three-dimensional color ultrasound uses images, while four-dimensional color ultrasound uses dynamic video, which allows pregnant mothers to see a series of movements of the fetus. The effect of fetal fetal abnormality screening is greatly improved, and the results of four-dimensional examination are more accurate. The price is naturally a little more expensive than three-dimensional. For the health of the baby, it is recommended that you do four-dimensional color ultrasound.

Four-dimensional color ultrasound can be performed at any gestational week, but it should be emphasized that there is currently controversy about doing four-dimensional color ultrasound in early pregnancy (before 12 weeks of pregnancy). For safety reasons, it is recommended to do fetal four-dimensional color ultrasound after 16 weeks of pregnancy.

After 16 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus's limbs and major organs have fully developed. The best time to check is between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, and the amount of amniotic fluid is more suitable for fetal malformation screening.

The four-dimensional examination may also be affected by some factors, such as oligohydramnios, maternal obesity, malposition of the fetus, close proximity of the placenta and uterine wall to the limbs and face, and excessive fetal movement. Although fetal heart malformation screening technology perfectly fills the gap in conventional fetal malformation screening, its main examination target is still severe and lethal fetal heart malformations. It has poor sensitivity to some small heart malformations and some malformations that can be surgically treated after birth, such as atrial septal defect and small ventricular septal defect. Therefore, at this stage, even in Europe and the United States where this technology is most advanced, the diagnosis rate is only 60%. Therefore, do not think that everything will be fine as long as this inspection is done, and ignore its limitations and the inspection function of other items that should be checked.