title: Can early ultrasound reduce the gestational age at abortion for fetal anomalies?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A significant proportion of second-trimester abortions are done for fetal anomalies. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of ultrasound at <14 weeks on the gestational age at abortion for structural fetal abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review identified all patients undergoing abortion following sonographic diagnosis of structural fetal anomalies at a single institution from 2004-2011. First-trimester ultrasound findings were reviewed, and abnormalities were categorized as "diagnostic" or "nondiagnostic." Chi-square analysis and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty-two patients who underwent abortion due to structural fetal abnormalities were included, 109 of whom underwent ultrasound at 11-13 weeks. In those scanned at <14 weeks, there were diagnostic findings in 36 cases (33.0%) and abnormal nuchal translucency or other nondiagnostic finding leading to early second-trimester ultrasound in 16 cases (14.7%). In those scanned at <14 weeks, median gestational age at abortion was earlier compared to those who underwent initial anatomic evaluation in the second trimester, 19 weeks (13.5-21) versus 21 weeks (19-22), p=.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound at <14 weeks was associated with an earlier gestational age at abortion in pregnancies with structural fetal abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA. stchasen@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chasen
authors.forename: Robin B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kalish
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal