title: Extremely large nuchal translucency measurement predicts adverse pregnancy outcome.
abstract: A prospective study was conducted to determine the outcome of pregnancies with 1st trimester nuchal translucency measurement of ≥ 6.5 mm. The risk of fetal abnormalities increases with enlarging nuchal translucency, being around 45% with a measurement of ≥ 6.5 mm. A total of 27,144 women with singleton pregnancies participated in the combined Down syndrome screening within the public healthcare system in Northern Finland. The study period was 1 May 2002 to 31 May 2009. The nuchal translucency measurement was ≥ 6.5 mm in 16 cases (0.06%). Pregnancy outcome was normal in one case (6.3%). The risk of abnormality was higher in our study than reported in the literature. According to our study, immediate diagnostic tests should be offered after an nuchal translucency measurement of ≥ 6.5 mm. We should also consider analysis of fetal micro-deletions associated with certain syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital , Oulu , Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pitkanen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yla-Outinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heikkila
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honkasalo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryynanen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marttala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: 1st trimester; Down syndrome; nuchal translucency; singleton pregnancy; ultrasound screening