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F94Early ultrasonographic screening for malformation – how early is too early?
Author(s) -
Gull I.,
Wolman I.,
HarToov J.,
Fait G.,
Amster R.,
Lessing J. B.,
Jaffa A. J.
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00015-1-93.x
Subject(s) - gestation , medicine , gestational age , obstetrics , pregnancy , gynecology , biology , genetics
Background Early ultrasonographic screening for malformation is performed between 14 and 17 weeks of gestation. Aims To analyze the effect of the gestational age on the screening efficacy of specific organs and to assess the optimal date for screening. Methods We analyzed 427 ultrasound screening performed between 14 and 18 weeks of gestation. The efficacy of screening for each structure at certain week was calculated. Then, we analyzed the data to obtain the best date in which the need for repeated screening was minimal. Results The lips, posterior fossa, heart and gall bladder were the main structures that could not be optimally visualized during the 14th week of gestation. The lips, Gall bladder and the VA valves and the great vessels were the structures that were not visualized optimally during 15–16 weeks of gestation. The ears and the fingers were the main structures that could not be optimally visualized during 17–18 week of gestation. The need for repeated screening at the 14th week of gestation was ∼65%, and at the first half of the 15th week ∼20%. The need for repeated screening from the end of the 15th week of gestation to the 17th week was ∼8% and rose to 11% at the 18th week. Conclusion The optimal date for early screening for malformation is the end of the 15th week of gestation to the 17th week.