Open AccessUltrasound screening for fetal anomalies in Southern Sweden: a population‐based study
Author(s) -
Nikkilä Annamari,
Rydhstroem Hakan,
Nikkilä Annamari,
Rydhstroem Hakan,
Källén Bengt,
Jörgensen Connie
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1080/00016340600676474
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , obstetrics , population , autopsy , congenital malformations , fetus , medical diagnosis , ultrasound , pediatrics , prenatal diagnosis , pregnancy , radiology , pathology , physics , environmental health , biology , optics , genetics
Abstract Background. The accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of congenital malformations has been the subject of many studies. Most of these are hospital‐based studies over a limited period of years presenting high detection rates and also relatively high incidence of major malformations. We present here a large population‐based study over a long period of years. Methods. The prenatal diagnoses are compared with the diagnoses of the newborns and aborted fetuses, including autopsy results. The detection rate of some common structural malformations is studied. Results . The overall detection rate of malformations in our study was 28.4%. We noticed an improved detection rate of heart defects and cleft lip during the study period. The prevalence of malformations in the population was 2.6%. The false positive diagnoses were few, 54 cases, and mainly of a mild nature. Conclusions . Ultrasound screening of fetal malformations in our population has a low false positive rate and even though the overall sensitivity is low, 28.4%, the detection rate for many common structural malformations is relatively good.