foetoscopy
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A prenatal diagnostic procedure: Foetoscopy is a medical technique that allows direct visual examination of a developing fetus inside the uterus using a thin, lighted instrument called a fetoscope. 2. A procedure for fetal intervention: It enables not only observation but also the sampling of fetal tissues, such as blood, for diagnostic purposes.
Usage
- Foetoscopy is used to diagnose certain genetic disorders or physical abnormalities that cannot be detected by ultrasound alone.
- The procedure carries a higher risk than amniocentesis and is typically reserved for specific, high-risk pregnancies.
Examples
- Noun:
- The doctor recommended foetoscopy to obtain a fetal blood sample for a definitive diagnosis.
- Advances in imaging have reduced the need for diagnostic foetoscopy in many cases.
Advanced Usage
- Therapeutic foetoscopy: In modern medicine, the technique is sometimes used not just for diagnosis but also for performing certain fetal surgeries, such as treating twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Variants and Related Words
- Fetoscopy (noun): An alternative, more common spelling of the same procedure.
- Fetoscope (noun): The endoscopic instrument used to perform foetoscopy.
- Amniocentesis (noun): A different prenatal diagnostic procedure involving the sampling of amniotic fluid.
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) (noun): Another prenatal diagnostic procedure involving the sampling of placental tissue.
Synonyms
- Fetal endoscopy: A more technical synonym describing the same visual examination procedure.
- Embryoscopy: A related term sometimes used for very early procedures, though it typically refers to examination of an embryo.
Related Phrases
- Prenatal diagnosis: The broader category of medical testing that includes foetoscopy.
- In-utero procedure: A general term for any medical procedure performed on a fetus while it is still in the womb.
Noun
- prenatal diagnosis that allows direct observation of a fetus in the uterus and the withdrawal of fetal blood