title: Brachycephaly is ineffective for detection of Down syndrome in early midtrimester fetuses.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the value of fetal brachycephaly in the detection of Down syndrome at 13-18 weeks of pregnancy. The cephalic index (CI) was determined in 555 consecutive chromosomally normal fetuses, and in 38 chromosomal abnormalities, prior to amniocentesis. A CI > 0.85 was observed in 14% (2/14) of the fetuses with Down syndrome and in 11% of the normal fetuses. In conclusion, our data show that brachycephaly is not a useful marker for Down syndrome in early midtrimester fetuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona Medical School, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borrell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puerto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ojuel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortuny
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006257:Head / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal