title: The usefulness of volume NT software in measuring the fetal nasal bone at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to investigate the reproducibility of 3D ultrasound to measure the fetal nasal bone (NB) at first trimester.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of singleton viable pregnancies attending the 11 to 13 + 6 weeks aneuploidy screening at the University of Bologna were prospectively selected. For each patient, fetal NB was measured by 2D ultrasound. Subsequently, a 3D ultrasound of the fetal head was acquired, and fetal NB was measured by offline analysis using the volume nuchal translucency software. The correlation between 2D and 3D ultrasounds and the reproducibility of fetal NB measurement at 3D ultrasound were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 161 Caucasian women were included in the study. At 3D ultrasound, NB measurement showed an excellent intraobserver [Oper 1, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.98; Oper 2, ICC = 0.921] and interobserver agreement (rc = 0.92). The agreement between 2D and 3D measurements was moderate (rc = 0.77).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 3D ultrasound supported by the volume nuchal translucency software may provide reliable measurements of the fetal NB in the first trimester.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, S. Orsola-Malpighi General Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Nanni
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Maroni
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Bevini
authors: Gianpaolo
authors: G
authors: Cucchi
authors: Elettra
authors: E
authors: Pignotti
authors: Gianluigi
authors: G
authors: Pilu
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Rizzo
authors: Tullio
authors: T
authors: Ghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult