This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Ultrasound scan (in prenatal diagnosis)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

An ultrasound scan is a non-invasive technique that has no associated risk for mother or fetus. Is the following undertaken to detect conditions which are detectable, although sometimes only with serial scans:

  • CNS: anencephaly, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, microcephaly
  • limb: severe short-limbed dwarfism, polydactyly, osteogenesis imperfecta
  • heart: severe congenital heart disease
  • kidney: renal agenesis, bladder outflow obstruction, infantile polycystic disease
  • GIT: duodenal atresia, anterior abdominal wall defects, diaphragmatic hernia

Specific markers for chromosomal abnormalities include is an increased nuchal fold. Also bright bowel can alert to the suspicion of a pregnancy at risk of cystic fibrosis, if seen on scan screening both parents would be discussed.

An anomaly scan to pick up structural defects can be performed between 18+0-20+6 weeks.


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.