JUM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Earn FREE CME Credit
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wax, J. R.
Right arrow Articles by Blackstone, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wax, J. R.
Right arrow Articles by Blackstone, J.
© 2007 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 26:825-828 • 0278-4297

The Value of Repeated Evaluation After Initial Failed Nuchal Translucency Measurement

Joseph R. Wax, MD, Michael G. Pinette, MD, Angelina Cartin and Jacquelyn Blackstone, DO

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine USA.

Address correspondence to Joseph R. Wax, MD, MMC Ob/Gyn Associates, 887 Congress St, Suite 200, Portland, ME 04102 USA. E-mail: waxj{at}mmc.org

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of reattempting the nuchal translucency (NT) measurement after an initial failure. Methods. Women undergoing NT measurements by NT-certified sonographers within a combined screening program over an 18-month period were categorized as "desiring" screening (all women), "eligible" (live fetus with crown-rump length of 45–84 mm), and "defaulters" (failed to keep a visit after a failed NT measurement attempt). If the NT measurement was unobtainable, patients with live fetuses and a crown-rump length of less than 84 mm were offered reexamination. Results. Nuchal translucency measurement success rates at the initial visit for those desiring (n = 837) and eligible (n = 767) were 73.3% and 80.0%, respectively. Composite NT measurement success rates for up to 3 visits were significantly greater than for only 1 visit for those desiring screening (84.8%; P < .0001), eligible for screening (86.6%; P = .0004), and not defaulting on follow-up (97.0%; P < .0001). The screen-positive rates were similar for 1 and up to 3 visits (10.4% and 11.0%). One additional (16.6%) aneuploidy was detected through a second visit. Conclusions. Reattempting NT measurements significantly increases the overall NT measurement success rate and detects additional aneuploidies at constant screen-positive and invasive prenatal diagnosis rates.

Key Words: Down syndrome • nuchal translucency • prenatal diagnosis

Abbreviations: CRL, crown-rump length • NT, nuchal translucency • TVUS, transvaginal ultrasonography

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2007 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.