Fetal nasal bone assessment in low risk singleton pregnancies between 20-24 weeks

Objective 

In this study, the evaluation of the mean values in the nasal bone (NB) measurements of low-risk Turkish population is aimed.

Methods

Between June 2014 and July 2014, 92 singleton pregnancies, who admitted to perinatology outpatient clinic for 20-24 week fetal anomaly screening, are included in the study. NB lengths, fetal biometric measurements, gestational week and parity characteristics are analysed. All measurements are performed with transabdominal ultrasound (Voluson 730, RAB 3,5-MHz prob). Pregnancies with fetal structural anomalies or chromosomal anomalies are excluded.

Results 

Mean maternal age was 28.08 ± 5.62 (minimum 17, maksimum 43; median 29); mean gravida was 2.36 ± 1.42 (minimum 1, maksimum 6; median 2); mean parity was 0.82 ± 0.99 (minimum 0, maksimum 3; median 1); mean gestational week was 20.49 ± 2.29 (minimum 20, maksimum 23; median 21); fetal NB length was 6.2 ± 0.9 mm (minimum 4.4 mm, maksimum 8.3 mm; median 6.1 mm). NB length was correlated with the gestational week (r=0.232).

Conclusion

Fetal NB can be assessed during 10 gestational week. Fetal position, maternal obesity, ultrasound image quality are main effecting factors. NB length can be differ according genetic and racial characteristics, which are important for making diagnosis of NB hypoplasia.

Keywords

Nasal bone, second trimester screening, singleton pregnancy

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