Routine prenatal ultrasound screening for fetal abnormalities: 22 years' experience. 1995

J M Carrera, and M Torrents, and C Mortera, and V Cusí, and A Muñoz
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.

We describe the results of routine obstetric ultrasound examination over a period of 22 years (1970-91) at the Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain. A total of 1006 malformed fetuses or neonates were identified at abortion or delivery. The prevalence of fetal abnormalities was 3.03%. Fetal anomalies were diagnosed antenatally in 788 (78.33%) cases. Early prenatal diagnosis (before 22 weeks of gestation) was made in 598 (59.44%) cases. The detection of malformed fetuses increased from 19.75% in the first phase of the study (1970-74) to 96.33% in the last phase (1990-91). The specificity of the method was over 99% throughout the study period. The most frequently diagnosed anomalies were urinary tract anomalies (22.86% of cases), followed by head and neck anomalies (18.68%), musculoskeletal anomalies (8.64%), heart anomalies (7.35%) and gastrointestinal anomalies (7.35%). The earliest diagnosed malformations were those of the thoracoabdominal wall (81.08%), followed by defects of the urinary tract (70.86%) and of the diaphragm (70.83%).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
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
D003955 Diagnostic Tests, Routine Diagnostic procedures, such as laboratory tests and x-rays, routinely performed on all individuals or specified categories of individuals in a specified situation, e.g., patients being admitted to the hospital. These include routine tests administered to neonates. Admission Tests, Routine,Hospital Admission Tests,Physical Examination, Preadmission,Routine Diagnostic Tests,Admission Tests, Hospital,Diagnostic Test, Routine,Diagnostic Tests,Examination, Preadmission Physical,Preadmission Physical Examination,Routine Diagnostic Test,Test, Routine Diagnostic,Tests, Diagnostic,Tests, Hospital Admission,Tests, Routine Diagnostic,Admission Test, Hospital,Admission Test, Routine,Diagnostic Test,Examinations, Preadmission Physical,Hospital Admission Test,Physical Examinations, Preadmission,Preadmission Physical Examinations,Routine Admission Test,Routine Admission Tests,Test, Diagnostic,Test, Hospital Admission,Test, Routine Admission,Tests, Routine Admission
D005260 Female Females
D005333 Fetus The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D005865 Gestational Age The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination. Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000013 Congenital Abnormalities Malformations of organs or body parts during development in utero. Birth Defects,Congenital Defects,Deformities,Fetal Anomalies,Fetal Malformations,Abnormalities, Congenital,Defects, Congenital,Abnormality, Congenital,Anomaly, Fetal,Birth Defect,Congenital Abnormality,Congenital Defect,Defect, Birth,Defect, Congenital,Deformity,Fetal Anomaly,Fetal Malformation,Malformation, Fetal
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D012680 Sensitivity and Specificity Binary classification measures to assess test results. Sensitivity or recall rate is the proportion of true positives. Specificity is the probability of correctly determining the absence of a condition. (From Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed) Specificity,Sensitivity,Specificity and Sensitivity
D013030 Spain Country located between France on the northeast and Portugal on the west and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital is Madrid. Balearic Islands,Canary Islands

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