Screening for Fetal Malformations

Abstract

Abstract Even though the issue of routine sonography for low-risk pregnant women continues to be controversial mainly because randomized trials have failed to demonstrate clear benefit on pregnancy outcome, detection of different fetal malformations seems be one of the main indications for performing scans in pregnancy. Due to progress made in ultrasound technology and the experience of sonographers it is feasible to diagnose congenital anomalies as early as the end of the first trimester. Nevertheless most targeted studies are performed at 18 to 20 weeks of gestation. The highest rates of detection of congenital anomalies are seen in tertiary care settings such as a university medical center. In high-risk cases a consulting perinatologist is commonly the physician most likely to integrate the ultrasound findings.