Ultrasound screening for fetal structural anomalies.
Ultrasound prenatal diagnosis of structural anomalies has become almost a separate branch of obstetrics. The advantages of performing ultrasound in pregnancies at high risk for fetal structural anomalies are clear. Patients and the news media have placed ever-increasing expectations on persons performing diagnostic ultrasound of the fetus. However, the benefits and cost-effectiveness of routine ultrasound screening during pregnancy remain unclear. This review focuses on three controversial topics related to the use of screening ultrasound for fetal structural anomalies: routine ultrasound screening, the four-chamber view, and amniocentesis versus ultrasound for detection of neural tube defects.
Gomez
K J
KJ
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Copel
J A
JA
D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000592:standards; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*