title: Timing of ultrasound in pregnancy--how often? At what intervals?
abstract: The second trimester fetal anatomic survey has continued to evolve over the past 27 years. This review will summarize the changes in the anatomic survey that have occurred and provide recommendations that serve to improve compliance with the components of the survey. In order to provide clarity and direction, the goals and limitations of the second trimester fetal anatomic survey should be defined. The visualization rate of specific fetal anatomic structures can be increased by specifying acceptable, alternative views. A single follow-up examination within 2-4 weeks of a fetal anatomic survey or before 22 weeks' gestation should be offered when specific components of the fetal anatomic survey cannot be visualized. The fetal anomalies that the anatomic survey seeks to identify should be defined along with an acceptable detection rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women's Hospital, 300 Halket St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Electronic address: hillm@mail.magee.edu.
authors.forename: Lyndon M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D013997:Time Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
keywords: Fetal anatomic survey; Second trimester ultrasound