Normal Nuchal Translucency with Septations at Crown-rump Length below 45 mm

JOURNAL TITLE: Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Author
1. Aya Itoh
2. Mohamed Ahmed Mostafa AboEllail
3. Toshiyuki Hata
ISSN
0973-614X
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10009-1943
Volume
16
Issue
4
Publishing Year
2022
Pages
4
Author Affiliations
    1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Miyake Clinic, Minami-ku, Okayama, Japan; Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa, Japan
    1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Miyake Clinic, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
  • Article keywords
    Cystic hygroma, Fetus, First trimester, Nuchal translucency, Pregnancy outcome, Septation

    Abstract

    Objective: To assess the clinical characteristics, pregnancy courses, and outcomes in fetuses showing normal nuchal translucency (NT) with septations at a crown-rump length (CRL) below 45 mm. Materials and methods: During a 33-month period from July 2019 to March 2022, nine fetuses showing normal NT with septations (CRL: 22.3–43.3 mm) (NNTS group) and six cystic hygromas (CRL: 27.7–42.8 mm) (CH group) were identified at 9+1–11+2 weeks of gestation. Their clinical characteristics, pregnancy courses, and outcomes were investigated and compared between the groups. Results: There were no significant differences in gestational age at examination, maternal age, parity, CRL, or prevalence of hydrops between NNTS and CH groups. There were significant differences in NT thickness between NNTS [1.66 (mean) ± 0.24 (standard deviation (SD)) mm] and CH [4.6 (mean) ± 0.93 (SD) mm] groups (p = 0.002). Good outcomes were noted in all cases (100%) in the NNTS group, whereas only two cases had healthy fetuses (33.3%) in the CH group (p = 0.004). In the NNTS group, seven fetuses (not determined in two fetuses) had normal ductus venous flow on first-trimester fetal ultrasound scan. Conclusion: Normal NT with septations at CRL below 45 mm may not be an ominous sign, whereas CH at CRL below 45 mm may still be associated with poor fetal outcomes. However, the data and its interpretation in our study should be taken with some degree of caution because of the small number of subjects studied in both groups. Further studies involving a larger sample size of normal NT with septations at CRL below 45 mm would be needed to ascertain whether nuchal septations are a benign or an ominous sign in clinical practice.

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