Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2009 Jan;52(1):61-67.

Clinical efficiency of the measurement of fetal nuchal translucency and Doppler examination of ductus venosus as a screening tool for chromosomal abnormalities

• Na SH
• Koo BS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficiency of the measurement of fetal nuchal translucency (FNT) and ductus venosus Doppler examination (DV Doppler) as a screening tool for chromosomal abnormalities.
METHODS
FNT measurement and DV Doppler wereperformed in 950 pregnancies between 11(+0)~13(+6) weeks' gestation. Chromosomal analysis was done when FNT was more than 3 mm and DV Doppler showed absent flow or reversed flow. The numbers of cases with increased FNT and abnormal DV Doppler were counted in the groups of abnormal and normal karyotype.
RESULTS
Data were available in 912 pregnancies. 11 pregnancies showed abnormal karyotype (1.2%). In the 11 cases with abnormal karyotype,increased FNT was found in 8 cases with 72.7% sensitivity and abnormal DV Doppler was found in 5 cases with 45.4% sensitivity. In the 901 cases withnormal karyotype, increased FNT was found in 33 cases with 96.3% specificity and abnormal DV Doppler was found in 12 cases with 98.7% specificity. Positive predictive value was 19.5% in cases of increased FNT, 29.4% in cases of abnormal DV Doppler, and 44.4% in cases of increased FNT and abnormal DV Doppler both.
CONCLUSION
There is no improvement in general screening for chromosomal abnormalities when FNT measurement and DV Doppler were performed together. But better specificity and positive predictive value for chromosomal abnormalities were found.

Keyword

Nuchal translucency; Ductus venosus Doppler; Chromosomal abnormality

MeSH Terms

Abnormal Karyotype
Chromosome Aberrations
Karyotype
Mass Screening
Nuchal Translucency Measurement
Pregnancy
Sensitivity and Specificity