Hyperechoic bowel on ultrasound is associated with which condition?

• A. Cystic fibrosis
• B. Down syndrome
• C. IUGR
• D. Maternal diabetes

Answer: (A)

Hyperechoic bowel is a fetal ultrasound finding where the bowel appears brighter than surrounding tissues. The strongest link for this sign among the options is cystic fibrosis. In CF, thick, inspissated meconium and pancreatic insufficiency can make the fetal bowel look unusually bright on ultrasound. While other conditions can sometimes show bright bowel, they are not as classically associated, so CF is the best-supported connection here. If this sign is seen, clinicians may consider testing for CFTR mutations or follow-up correlation with other markers, though echogenic bowel can be non-specific and seen in other situations as well.