What is echogenic bowel?
Echogenic means "looks bright".
Bowel means the baby's intestines.
On ultrasound, part of the bowel looks as bright as bone. This is a finding. It is not a diagnosis.
Echogenic Bowel in Pregnancy
A simple guide for patients and families
What it may look like
This picture is an example. Your baby's ultrasound may look different.
What does" isolated" mean?
Isolated means this is the only finding seen after a detailed ultrasound.
No birth defect, poor growth, or other soft marker was seen.
What can it mean?
- Many babies are healthy.
- It may be a buildup of the baby's first bowel movement.
- The baby may have swallowed a small amount of blood.
- It may be linked to CMV (a virus) infection.
- It may be linked to cystic fibrosis.
- Sometimes the cause is not found.
What does SMFM recommend?
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommends:
- If you already had a low-risk screening test, such as cell-free DNA or a serum screen, no more chromosome testing is needed just because of isolated echogenic bowel.
- If you have not had screening, your care team may offer cell-free DNA or a quad screen.
- Your care team should check for cystic fibrosis and CMV.
- You should have an ultrasound in the third trimester to check the bowel again and check the baby’s growth.
What tests may be offered?
- A detailed ultrasound.
- Cystic fibrosis carrier screening for the parents.
- Blood tests for CMV.
- Amniocentesis in some cases.
- A third-trimester growth ultrasound.
Your care team will choose tests based on your history and prior results.
What is the outlook?
Most babies with isolated echogenic bowel have a normal outcome.
The outlook may be different when there are other ultrasound findings, infection, cystic fibrosis, or poor growth.
What happens next?
- Ask if the finding is isolated.
- Review any prior screening results.
- Complete the tests your care team advises.
- Keep the follow-up ultrasound visit.
- Ask questions. Your care team is there to help.
Key message
Echogenic bowel is an ultrasound finding, not a diagnosis. When it is the only finding and other tests are normal, most babies do well.