title: Evaluation of a two-step ultrasound examination protocol for the detection of major fetal structural defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a two-step screening protocol of ultrasound examinations (11-14 and 20-24 weeks) for the detection of major fetal structural defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study in a private maternity hospital. Women with viable singleton pregnancies having both first trimester scan and anomaly scan at our department and subsequently delivered at our hospital were included. Major fetal structural defects were defined as those requiring medical or surgical treatment or those causing mental handicap.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3,902 pregnancies included 61 fetuses with structural defects (1.56%). Twenty-six (42.6%) were diagnosed in the first trimester and 29 (47.5%) in the second. Six anomalies were detected in the third trimester or after birth. Overall detection rate of the two-step program was 90.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detailed examination of fetal anatomy at 11-14 weeks resulted in the early diagnosis of about 40% of major structural defects.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Unit, Leto Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece. apilalis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilalis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basagiannis
authors.forename: Makarios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eleftheriades
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faros
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Troukis
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armelidou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papastefanou
authors.forename: Athena P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Souka
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult