NUCHAL TRANSLUCENCY AS APREDICTOR OF ADVERSE FOETAL OUTCOME

Dr. J. Sarala; Dr. Prema Elizabeth Jayanthi David; Dr. P. Prasanna

Volume : VII, Issue : III, March - 2018

NUCHAL TRANSLUCENCY AS APREDICTOR OF ADVERSE FOETAL OUTCOME

Dr. J. Sarala, Dr. Prema Elizabeth Jayanthi David, Dr. P. Prasanna

Abstract :

Nuchal translucency is the sonographic appearance of subcutaneous accumulation of fluid behind the fetal neck in the first trimester of pregnancy. Thickened nuchal translucency has been related to fetal genetic syndromes and structural abnormalities .Fetal nuchal translucency normally increases with gestation. Thickened nuchal translucency is also associated with fetal cardio vascular, pulmonary defects and skeletal dysplasia. In India, the incidence is 1 in 600–700.

A prospective observational clinical study was done on 300 pregnant women between 11–14 weeks of gestation who were randomly selected over a period of 2 years who attended the antenatal clinic at Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Egmore, Chennai. Screening by fetal nuchal translucency was performed for all the 300 pregnant women. In this study, 13[4.33%] of pregnant women had NT above 95 th percentile.287 [95.67%] of pregnant women had NT less than 95 th percentile. Out of 13, 3 opted for MTP. Though significant reassurance can be given by a normal NT scan, follow up anomaly scan at 20 weeks irrespective of the NT status is a must as many structural defects can be detected in the 20 weeks scan even in the normal NT group.