Color Doppler energy in prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis: a case report.

Meconium peritonitis is an uncommon chemical peritonitis of a fetus resulting from antenatal bowel perforation. We reported a case of meconium peritonitis with pseudocystic formation diagnosed by color Doppler energy (CDE) at 34 gestational weeks. An echogenic substance inside a fetal abdominal mass was detected using ultrasound. By conventional color Doppler, there was minimal blood flow in the cystic wall or septums of the mass. Using CDE, bowel hyperperistalsis was observed in multiple small bowel loops and the region of intestinal loops into the mass was easily detected. Therefore, the angle independent nature of CDE will play a significant role in the early and accurate diagnosis of meconium peritonitis before birth.