FIRST-TRIMESTER ULTRASOUND SCREENING: CHARACTERISTICS OF FETAL STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES AND SONOGRAPHIC RISK MARKERS AT VINMEC TIMES CITY INTERNATIONAL GENERAL HOSPITAL, 2025
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Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence and describe the characteristics of fetal structural abnormalities and sonographic risk markers detected during first-trimester ultrasound screening at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital in 2025.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 82 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies at 11 weeks 0 days to 13 weeks 6 days of gestation who underwent first-trimester ultrasound screening at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital from January to December 2025.
Results: The mean maternal age was 30.8 ± 4.7 years, with women aged 25–34 years accounting for 67.1% of the study population. The mean gestational age at ultrasound examination was 12.4 ± 0.7 weeks. At least one fetal abnormality or sonographic risk marker was detected in 13/82 cases (15.9%; 95% CI: 8.7–25.6%). Structural abnormalities were identified in 5 cases (6.1%), including abnormalities of the central nervous system (n=2), heart (n=2), and abdominal wall (n=1). Nuchal translucency (NT) ≥3.0 mm was observed in 4 cases (4.9%), absent visualization of the nasal bone in 2 cases (2.4%), and other sonographic markers in 2 cases (2.4%). The proportion of pregnancies with abnormalities or sonographic risk markers was higher among those with NT ≥3.0 mm than among those with NT <3.0 mm (100% vs. 10.3%; p<0.001). Among women aged ≥35 years, the corresponding proportion was 30.0%, compared with 11.3% among women aged <35 years (p=0.074).
Conclusion: First-trimester ultrasound screening can detect some fetal structural abnormalities and sonographic risk markers at an early stage of pregnancy. A systematic assessment of fetal anatomy combined with NT measurement and evaluation of relevant sonographic markers may help identify pregnancies requiring further counseling and specialized assessment.
Keywords
first-trimester ultrasound, prenatal screening, fetal structural abnormalities, nuchal translucency
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References
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