title: The clinical practice patterns of fetal ultrasonography in the first-trimester: A questionnaire survey of members of the Korean Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to survey the current clinical practice of first-trimester ultrasonography among members of the Korean Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (KSUOG) and to provide basic data for making practical recommendations about first-trimester ultrasonography scan in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This survey was conducted using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. The first-trimester in this survey was divided into two parts: early and late first-trimester. The survey was focused on safety issue, nuchal translucency (NT) cutoff, the anatomic structures they check, and the need for practical recommendations or educational courses during the first-trimester.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 194 KSUOG members participated into this survey. The survey on early first-trimester scan reveal that 173 (89.2%) of respondents had used pulsed-wave Doppler or color Doppler imaging to monitor fetal heart beat. For the late first-trimester scan, 145 (74.7%) of respondents was found to check for fetal anatomical assessments during their NT screening performance; however, the clinical practice patterns were considerably varied among participants. More than half of the respondents used the criterion of NT ≥3.0 mm to define increased NT. Approximately 80% of respondents stated that the screening ultrasonography of fetal structures in the first-trimester was necessary. Furthermore, 187 (96.4%) of respondents were in favor of a recommendation for first-trimester ultrasonography in Korea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first survey of the current clinical practice of first-trimester ultrasonography in Korea. Our survey findings highlight the need for the practical recommendation or educational course for first-trimester ultrasonography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamchoon Women's Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kun Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sa Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Clinical practical pattern; Data collection; Pregnancy trimester, first; Ultrasonography