Effectiveness of early pregnancy ultrasound in diagnosing fetal abnormalities in high risk women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of 11-14 weeks ultrasound in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities in high risk women.


METHODS
Prospective study conducted at a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. One hundred ultrasound (mini-anomaly) scans were performed on 97 high-risk women, between 11-14 weeks of gestation.


RESULTS
The most common indication for the ultrasound scan in the study, was previous history of structural or chromosomal abnormalities (40%) followed by advanced maternal age (22%). Out of 100 ultrasounds performed, two were found to have structural abnormalities at the time of mini-anomaly scan performed at 11-14 weeks. None of the ultrasound scans found to be normal at 11-14 weeks showed an abnormality on the subsequent scans.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound scan performed between 11-14 weeks of pregnancy is effective in diagnosing major fetal abnormalities in the high-risk population. It can complement the anomaly scan performed in the second trimester, as some of the abnormalities become evident later in pregnancy.
Munim
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Khowaja
N
N
D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*