The influence of fetal position on nuchal translucency thickness

• Published in: Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 520 - 522
• Main Authors: De Graaf, I. M., Müller, M. A., Van Zuylen‐Vié, A. A., Bleker, O. P., Bilardo, C. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.06.2000; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fetal position; Gestational Age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Management. Prenatal diagnosis; Medical sciences; Neck - diagnostic imaging; Nuchal translucency measurement; Observer Variation; Posture; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - statistics & numerical data; Chromosomal aberration; Sonography; Human; Head position; Trisomy; Chromosome G21; Aneuploidy; Medical screening; Thickness; Prenatal; Echography; Nuchal translucency; Fetus; Neck; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0960-7692; 1469-0705
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00136.x

Objective To determine whether nuchal translucency thickness is influenced by the fetal position at ultrasound examination. Subjects Transabdominal ultrasound examination for pregnancy dating and measurement of nuchal translucency thickness was performed at 10–14 weeks' gestation in all women attending the antenatal clinic of our hospital. During the examination special attention was paid to a change in fetal position from prone to supine or vice versa. Methods For each fetus the nuchal translucency measurement was repeated when a positional change from prone to supine or vice versa was recorded. All measurements were recorded on hard copy. An image‐scoring method was used and evaluated by three independent reviewers. Results Eighty‐five fetuses were included in this study. The mean nuchal translucency for supine fetuses was 1.91 mm compared with 1.93 mm for prone fetuses. The mean quality‐score was 6.54 for supine fetuses and 6.55 for prone fetuses. This difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion Fetal position has no influence on the measurement of nuchal translucency. Copyright © 2000 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology