title: The performance of an intermediate 16th-week ultrasound scan for the follow-up of euploid fetuses with increased nuchal translucency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study is to assess the utility of an intermediate ultrasound scan at 16(+0) to 18(+6)  weeks of gestation in euploid fetuses with increased nuchal translucency ≥ 3.5 mm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred eighty-nine fetuses with nuchal translucency (NT) ≥ 3.5 mm were identified in two prenatal centers between January 2008 and December 2012. Pregnancy work-up included karyotyping, monthly detailed ultrasound scan starting with a 16th-week scan, a cardioechography, and a genetic counseling. Abnormal findings and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 389 fetuses included, 52% had normal karyotype. Among euploid fetuses, 51 (30.7%) structural defects were identified overall. First-trimester scan was useful to identify 16 of the major defects (31.3%), and the 16th-week scan was useful to identify an additional 21 of them (41.2%), whereas the 22nd-week pregnancy scan discovered an additional 14 (27.4%). Structural defects discovered with the 16th-week scan were cardiac defects (n = 7), polymalformative syndromes (n = 3), left diaphragmatic hernias (n = 3), limbs abnormalities (n = 2), genitourinary (n = 2), microretrognathism (n = 2), hydrops (n = 1), and exomphalos (n = 1). If the intermediate scan was normal, the chances of a favorable outcome were as high as 85% and were close to 100% after 20 weeks, irrespective of initial NT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intermediate ultrasound was useful in fetuses with increased NT pregnancy work-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poissy-Saint Germain Hospital, Versailles-Saint Quentin University, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Maela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Lous
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poissy-Saint Germain Hospital, Versailles-Saint Quentin University, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouhanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AP-HP, Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colmant
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poissy-Saint Germain Hospital, Versailles-Saint Quentin University, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rozenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poissy-Saint Germain Hospital, Versailles-Saint Quentin University, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Thibaud
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quibel
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059785:Karyotype; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*