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Frontomaxillary facial angle in fetuses with spina bifida at 11–13 weeks' gestation
Author(s) -
Lachmann R.,
Picciarelli G.,
Moratalla J.,
Greene N.,
Nicolaides K. H.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.7718
Subject(s) - spina bifida , medicine , gestation , fetus , abnormality , anatomy , pregnancy , surgery , biology , genetics , psychiatry
Objective To determine whether in fetuses with open spina bifida at 11–13 weeks' gestation the frontomaxillary facial angle is decreased. Methods The frontomaxillary facial angle was measured in 20 fetuses with open spina bifida and in 100 normal controls matched for crown–rump length (CRL) at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks and the values in the two groups were compared. Results In the control group the frontomaxillary facial angle decreased significantly with CRL from a mean of 84.0° at a CRL of 45 mm to 76.5° at a CRL of 84 mm (SD, 3.26°). In the spina bifida group the mean frontomaxillary facial angle, corrected for CRL, was 9.9° lower than in the controls and it was below the 5 th centile in 18 (90%) of the cases ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions In fetuses with open spina bifida at 11–13 weeks' gestation the frontomaxillary facial angle is decreased and this measurement may be useful in early screening for this abnormality. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.