Sonographically measured nuchal skinfold thickness as a screening tool for Down syndrome: results of a prospective clinical trial. 1991

J P Crane, and D L Gray
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Second-trimester sonographic measurement of nuchal skinfold thickness has been proposed as a potential screening tool for Down syndrome detection. The feasibility of this technique was tested in a prospective study of 3338 consecutive pregnancies at 14-21 weeks' gestation. A nuchal skinfold thickness of 6 mm or greater was identified in 47 fetuses (1.4%), 12 of whom proved subsequently by either amniocentesis or postnatal follow-up to have Down syndrome. The sensitivity of nuchal skinfold thickness for Down syndrome detection was 75% (12 of 16 cases). When adjusted for the incidence of Down syndrome in the general population (one in 710 births), the positive predictive value of nuchal skinfold thickness for Down syndrome detection was one in 13. The observed sensitivity, false-positive rate, and predictive value suggest that amniocentesis should be offered when a nuchal skinfold thickness of 6 mm or greater is observed between 14-21 weeks' gestation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009333 Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the HEAD to the rest of the body. Necks
D011237 Predictive Value of Tests In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test. Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011262 Pregnancy Trimester, Second The middle third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 15th through the 28th completed week (99 to 196 days) of gestation. Midtrimester,Pregnancy, Second Trimester,Trimester, Second,Midtrimesters,Pregnancies, Second Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Second,Second Pregnancy Trimester,Second Pregnancy Trimesters,Second Trimester,Second Trimester Pregnancies,Second Trimester Pregnancy,Second Trimesters,Trimesters, Second
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D004314 Down Syndrome A chromosome disorder associated either with an extra CHROMOSOME 21 or an effective TRISOMY for chromosome 21. Clinical manifestations include HYPOTONIA, short stature, BRACHYCEPHALY, upslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthus, Brushfield spots on the iris, protruding tongue, small ears, short, broad hands, fifth finger clinodactyly, single transverse palmar crease, and moderate to severe INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. Cardiac and gastrointestinal malformations, a marked increase in the incidence of LEUKEMIA, and the early onset of ALZHEIMER DISEASE are also associated with this condition. Pathologic features include the development of NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES in neurons and the deposition of AMYLOID BETA-PROTEIN, similar to the pathology of ALZHEIMER DISEASE. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p213) Mongolism,Trisomy 21,47,XX,+21,47,XY,+21,Down Syndrome, Partial Trisomy 21,Down's Syndrome,Partial Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome,Trisomy 21, Meiotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy 21, Mitotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy G,Downs Syndrome,Syndrome, Down,Syndrome, Down's
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

J P Crane, and D L Gray
February 1995, Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology,
J P Crane, and D L Gray
December 2001, Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology,
J P Crane, and D L Gray
May 1999, International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics,
J P Crane, and D L Gray
July 1996, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
J P Crane, and D L Gray
February 1999, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
J P Crane, and D L Gray
May 2001, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
J P Crane, and D L Gray
January 1993, Indian journal of pediatrics,
J P Crane, and D L Gray
December 2016, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism,
Copied contents to your clipboard!