Ultrasound imaging of fetal neck anomalies: implications for the risk of aneuploidy and structural anomalies
✍ Scribed by Etan Z. Zimmer; Arie Drugan; Chagit Ofir; Shraga Blazer; Moshe Bronshtein
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1997
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 33 KB
- Volume
- 17
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0197-3851
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
This study summarizes 24 000 transvaginal ultrasound examinations which were performed in a predominantly low-risk population at 14-16 weeks' gestation. 1254 (5•2 per cent) fetuses had a nuchal fold or a non-septated cystic hygroma. Of these fetuses, 140 (11•1 per cent) had additional structural anomalies. Cardiovascular anomalies were the most commonly detected structural malformations. Forty-three (3•4 per cent) fetuses were aneuploid. Trisomy 21 was the most common chromosomal anomaly (n=27). Aneuploidy was significantly more common in fetuses who had a nuchal finding and an associated structural anomaly. The prevalence of nuchal fold and non-septated cystic hygroma, as well as the incidence of their associated structural anomalies, was similar. Based on these data, it is concluded that a complete ultrasonic survey of the fetus and karyotyping are advocated in fetuses with a nuchal abnormality, irrespective of maternal age or triple serum screening results. 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.