Vol. 1, Issue 10, Part P (2015)

Abstract
Background: The ideal time to scan for foetal malformation is during the first trimester. This is a marked change in screening policy due to the significant advances which have been made in antenatal screening for fetal chromosomal abnormalities over the past 20 years. In the past, invasive prenatal diagnosis for Down syndrome with amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was offered only to women of advanced maternal age or those who previously had an affected child. In a recent survey of perinatologists in the United States, 4600 used nuchal translucency sonography and 27% used the serum markers PAPP-A and human Chorionic Gonadotropin during the first trimester to screen for Down syndrome. With the starting of national training programs for nuchal translucency sonography it is likely that first trimester based screening programs for Down syndrome will become dominant. As the stakes are high and such cases should always be diagnosed as soon as possible a sincere attempt is being made in this study to understand the pre-natal diagnosis using the USG.