How to measure nuchal translucency?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Ta Quoc Ban - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Measuring nuchal translucency is a necessary and important test for mothers during pregnancy. The results of measuring nuchal translucency will help the doctor diagnose the risk of birth defects in the fetus. So how can nuchal translucency measurement be performed?

1. Measure nuchal translucency at what week?

The timing of the nuchal translucency test is very important, because it is only at this time that the best results can be obtained. The doctor will appoint the pregnant mother to measure the nuchal translucency at the 11th to 13th week of pregnancy because:
If the ultrasound is performed before the 11th week, the fetus is still too small, the baby's nape will be very fuzzy. resulting in inaccurate measurement results. If the ultrasound is done after the 13th week, then the nuchal translucency results have returned to normal, making it very difficult for the doctor to diagnose. Therefore, pregnant mothers must pay close attention to this extremely important time to be able to determine the development status of the fetus.

2. How to measure nuchal translucency?

Nuchal translucency measurement is a way to check the nape of the fetus by ultrasound at 11-13 weeks of pregnancy to diagnose Down syndrome at the earliest.
Nuchal translucency ultrasound will usually be done through the abdomen of the pregnant woman, but for some special cases, such as women with a retro-tilted uterus or those who are overweight, it can be done by ultrasound. transvaginal transducer, which makes the results more accurate.
When conducting fetal ultrasound, the doctor will measure from the top of the head to the end of the fetal spine, then measure the nuchal translucency. The appearance of the baby's skin on the ultrasound screen is the white part. The collection of fluid at the back of the neck is the black part. A white line appears on the back of the neck while the surrounding area is darker, this is the blur on the back of the neck. You can see your baby's head, legs, arms, spine through the ultrasound screen. The nuchal translucency ultrasound method will not pose any danger to mother and baby during the procedure.
Take measurements from week 11 to 13 weeks 6 days 45 mm

Đo độ mờ da gáy bằng cách nào? — Đo độ mờ da gáy để chẩn đoán hội chứng Down sớm nhất

3. Meaning of nuchal translucency measurement results

Bộ gen người có đặc điểm, tính chất gì? — Kết quả đo độ mờ da gáy sẽ cho biết tỉ lệ nguy cơ của bé bị bất thường về nhiễm sắc thể

The results of the nuchal translucency measurement will show your baby's risk of having a chromosomal abnormality.
Previously, the threshold of 3mm was selected. Some authors chose 2.5 for all embryos from 11-13 weeks. NT will increase according to CRL, need to compare NT with CRL to recognize abnormal NT increase. Called increased when NT > 95th percentile corresponding to the thicker CRL, the higher the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities

Nhận diện kết quả bất thường khi siêu âm độ mờ da gáy thai nhi — Kết quả đo độ mờ da gáy sẽ cho biết nguy cơ của bé bị bất thường về nhiễm sắc thể

During the first 3 months of pregnancy, the most important thing for pregnant women to do is to measure nuchal translucency. From the measured results, the doctors will give the best self-examination and advice for pregnant women to ensure the health of both mother and baby. In addition, during this period, to ensure the health of both mother and baby in addition to measuring nuchal translucency, pregnant mothers need to pay attention to:
Understand early signs of pregnancy, pregnancy poisoning, blood in pregnancy. Timely, correct and sufficient first prenatal check-up, avoiding too early/too late. Fetal malformation screening at 12 weeks detects dangerous fetal malformations that can be intervened early. Distinguish between normal vaginal bleeding and pathological vaginal bleeding for timely intervention to maintain pregnancy. Screening for thyroid disease in the first 3 months of pregnancy avoids dangerous risks before and during delivery. Vinmec currently has many maternity packages (12-27-36 weeks), in which the 12-week maternity package helps monitor the health of mother and baby right from the beginning of pregnancy, early detection and timely intervention of health issues. In addition to the usual services, the maternity monitoring program from 12 weeks has special services that other maternity packages do not have such as: Double Test or Triple Test to screen for fetal malformations; Quantitative angiogenesis factor test for preeclampsia; thyroid screening test; Rubella test; Testing for parasites transmitted from mother to child seriously affects the baby's brain and physical development after birth.

Master. Doctor Ta Quoc Ban is formerly a Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Thai Nguyen University, Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Thai Nguyen Central General Hospital, Deputy Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of Medical University. The doctor has full practice certificates in the field of obstetrics and gynecology such as: Ultrasound, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic and electrocautery, artificial insemination (IUI)...
Experienced and qualified Strong in the following fields:
Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound Laparoscopic surgery in gynecology Prenatal counseling Gynecological examination and consultation Infertility examination and consultation, implementation of sperm injection technique into the uterus , Pre-vaccination screening and treatment of post-vaccination reactions...

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