Translucencia nucal aumentada y cariotipo normal

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound scan has a main role at the 11-14 weeks screening for chromosomal abnormalities. The measurement of nuchal translucency (NT) thickness is a widespread stablished method to achieve this target. Objective: To assess retrospectively the outcome of fetuses with increased nuchal translucency and normal karyotype. Method: Data were collected from 104 fetuses with NT > 95th percentile at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation, followed in our institution. The sixty one euploid fetuses were studied in order to determine the incidence of structural abnormalities, diagnosed either before or after delivery, as well as antenatal fetal loss. Among these fetuses, there were no malformations at birth in 80% for NT between the 95th percentile and 3.4 mm; 50% for NT between 3.5 and 4.4 mm; 30% for NT of 4.5-5.4 mm; and 18% for NT ≥ 5.5 mm. There were 4 euploid newborns with some kind of structural defect at birth, 3 of them presented a cardiac malformation. Conclusion: The presence of increased NT at 11-14 weeks scan in euploid fetuses it's associated with a higher risk of major structural abnormalities, mainly cardiac ones. The prevalence of malformations is significantly increased for NT > 3.5 mm, and the adverse perinatal outcome is directly associated with the thickness of NT.