title: Fetal cardiac scanning performed immediately following an abnormal nuchal translucency examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the implications of early fetal cardiac scanning immediately following an abnormal nuchal translucency (NT) examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal cardiac scanning was performed immediately after an increased NT was observed. Scans were performed transvaginally at 11 to 14 weeks. Fetal echocardiography was repeated between 14 and 24 weeks in continuing pregnancies, or when the cardiac scanning appeared normal at 11 to 14 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed 2513 NT examinations. An abnormal NT was observed in 135 (5.4%) patients. In addition, 65 patients with an abnormal NT were referred to us for fetal cardiac scanning from other offices. Overall, we performed 200 fetal cardiac scans between 11.2 and 13.5 weeks for an abnormal NT examination. Twelve major fetal cardiac anomalies were diagnosed between 12 and 13.5 weeks. Seven patients (58%) terminated pregnancy between 12 and 14 weeks without performing chorionic villous sampling (CVS). Five patients asked for chromosomal analysis before deciding about their pregnancy. Fetal cardiac anomalies were suspected in six additional cases, but only one of them was diagnosed. Another five minor and one major fetal cardiac anomaly were suspected at 11 to 14 weeks but diagnosed later on fetal echocardiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Major fetal cardiac anomalies can be detected immediately following an abnormal NT examination and be useful for the patients' decisions about the management of their pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. z_weiner@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weizman
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beloosesky
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bombard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult