title: Should the first trimester ultrasound include anatomy survey?
abstract: First trimester scanning has become routine since the introduction of nuchal translucency screening. While most scans have included dating and gross anatomical structures, recent reports have shown that with improvement of ultrasound technology, especially high-frequency transvaginal transducers, detailed analysis of the early fetal anatomy is now possible. Studies included in this manuscript demonstrate the ability to now being able to identify many fetal malformations including some very subtle ones. The literature presented has carefully conducted many prospective studies presenting timelines that show optimal periods to review the anatomical structures by a given gestational age especially noting when these anatomical structures are not optimally seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; Center for Fetal Medicine and Women's Ultrasound, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: ldplatt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lawrence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Platt
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
keywords: Fetal anatomy; First trimester ultrasound; Prenatal diagnosis; Transvaginal ultrasound