Our Services

Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center

Description of Services

The Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center (FDTC) is located at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and is conducted in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Magee-Womens Hospital is the region's premier provider of obstetric and neonatal care, serving as the regional referral center for high-risk maternal care and fetal therapy. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has designated Magee-Womens Hospital as a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health.

An expertise in women’s health and pregnancy is the foundation of the FDTC and its continuum of care; from evaluation to treatment of fetal abnormalities. In the event of a problem during pregnancy, the interdisciplinary team of pediatric and obstetrical specialists at the FDTC provides a coordinated effort to establish an individualized treatment plan for mother and baby. This comprehensive team approach allows for evaluation, precise diagnosis, and management of complicated conditions, maintaining consistency in care that extends from the time of diagnosis to delivery and into the newborn period.

Our physicians use an array of diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical services to diagnosis, monitor, and treat conditions during pregnancy. High-resolution ultrasound allows staff to detect fetal anomalies earlier in pregnancy and with much greater accuracy. Newly developed minimally invasive techniques have helped to reduce the risk of surgical intervention with the use of small needles and cameras to enter the womb and, sometimes, the fetus, to try to correct a developing problem.

The FDTC cares for a wide range of conditions, including:

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome
Spina bifida
Gastroschisis
Omphalocele
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation
Posterior urethal valves
Fetal heart defects

When a problem is found, the multidisciplinary team at the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center is there and ready to establish a treatment plan.

Learn more about the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.

Referral Requirements

Patients can be referred to the center's patient care coordinator by a referring physician, or patients can self-refer. Prior submission of records is recommended for optimal consideration and evaluation. FDTC physicians will return the patient to the referring physician’s care or may co-manage the pregnancy with the referring physician and assist in the timing and location of delivery and coordination of services. Referring physicians will receive a letter outlining complete findings and recommendations of the FDTC.