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For many expecting mothers waiting for nine months to see one's baby is tortuous but with the availability of the three and four dimensional ultrasound scan (3D/4D) in Zimbabwe this waiting period could be a thing of the past.

By utilising the technology currently offered at one medical centre in Harare, expecting parents can now see all the features of unborn babies and even observe their movements in the womb.

A radiologist who is introducing the technology explained that 3D obstetric ultrasound was a technique for producing three dimensional images of the foetus.

"These images can be captured rapidly and animated to produce a 4D ultrasound scan.

The three dimensions of an image are the width, height and depth. Movement is the fourth dimension. The 3D is a still image and is displayed as a photograph.

Currently, the standard obstetric scan is performed using 2D real time grey scale imaging, which shows blurred images of the unborn baby.

3D ultrasound was first developed by Olaf Von Ramm and Stephen Smith at Duke University in the United States of America in 1987 but only became available in Zimbabwe at the end of last year.

Another advantage of using this technology is that it can show to a certain extent disabilities the baby may have.

A 3D/4D ultrasound scan is, however, not a substitute for a 2D Obstetric scan.

The 2D Obstetric scan shows internal organs, and therefore is valuable clinically, while a 3D/4D scan can add more surface information and therefore complete the picture.

Source: allAfrica.com

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