title: The use of nuchal translucency in contemporary obstetric practice.
abstract: Nuchal translucency sonography is the most powerful single prenatal marker for Down syndrome. Its detection rate is 75% at a 5% false-positive rate. The combination of nuchal translucency and maternal serum-free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A can identify 85% to 90% of fetuses with Down syndrome for a false-positive rate of 5%. This method can also identify more than 90% of fetuses with trisomies 18 and 13, Turner syndrome, and triploidy for a screen-positive rate of 1%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Soha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Fergal D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Malone
mesh_terms: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014314:Trisomy / Q000175:diagnosis; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A