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What Does My Ultrasound Scan Test Report Indicate?
Question: Hello i am 12.5 weeks pregnant. My ultrasound showed nt measurement at 3.4. Is it very high to do amnio to make sure the baby is healthy? I am very healthy. Have two healthy girls. No family history of any abnormalities. I am 35.
Brief Answer:
Amniocentesis is advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Nuchal translucency of more than 3.5 mm is considered abnormal and associated with a high chance of chromosomal anomalies in the fetus.
The incidence of chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome increases with the increasing age of the mother.
Since your NT is just borderline and your age is 35 years, it is advisable for you to get amniocentesis done at 15-16 weeks gestation to confirm the fetal karyotype.
It is a safe procedure, if performed by an expert, with a very rare 0.5-1% rate of complications.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Amniocentesis is advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Nuchal translucency of more than 3.5 mm is considered abnormal and associated with a high chance of chromosomal anomalies in the fetus.
The incidence of chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome increases with the increasing age of the mother.
Since your NT is just borderline and your age is 35 years, it is advisable for you to get amniocentesis done at 15-16 weeks gestation to confirm the fetal karyotype.
It is a safe procedure, if performed by an expert, with a very rare 0.5-1% rate of complications.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I thought 3.0 was a borderline? My uktrafound also showed nasal bone and heart rate 167
Brief Answer:
NT changes with gestation age
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, thanks for responding. There is a upper normal limit for NT for different gestation age, which is computed by a software in the ultrasound machine. However, 3.5 mm is considered the upper limit for all gestational age between 10 - 14 weeks.
Presence of nasal bone and a fetal heart rate of 167 beats per minute is completely normal.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
NT changes with gestation age
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, thanks for responding. There is a upper normal limit for NT for different gestation age, which is computed by a software in the ultrasound machine. However, 3.5 mm is considered the upper limit for all gestational age between 10 - 14 weeks.
Presence of nasal bone and a fetal heart rate of 167 beats per minute is completely normal.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Babies with doen syndrome show absent nose bone, right? So with my results, what r chsnces for ds? Thanks
Brief Answer:
Fetal karyotype assessment advisable in increased NT
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, not all babies with Downs syndrome have absent nasal bones.Increased NT have a high sensitivity of 70-75% in detection of chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome, XXXXXXX 's syndrome, and trisomy 18.
Itsalalways advisable to go for chromosomal analysis of the fetus in case of increased NT, irrespective of the presence or absence of other ultrasound markers.
The chromosomal analysis can be done by amniocentesis at 15-16 weeks of pregnancy, or by NIPT which is non invasive prenatal testing. This is a test in which fetal karyotype is assessed by free fetal DNA in mother's blood, so only your blood sample will be taken for fetal karyotype assessment. There is no risk of fetal complications in this test.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Fetal karyotype assessment advisable in increased NT
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, not all babies with Downs syndrome have absent nasal bones.Increased NT have a high sensitivity of 70-75% in detection of chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome, XXXXXXX 's syndrome, and trisomy 18.
Itsalalways advisable to go for chromosomal analysis of the fetus in case of increased NT, irrespective of the presence or absence of other ultrasound markers.
The chromosomal analysis can be done by amniocentesis at 15-16 weeks of pregnancy, or by NIPT which is non invasive prenatal testing. This is a test in which fetal karyotype is assessed by free fetal DNA in mother's blood, so only your blood sample will be taken for fetal karyotype assessment. There is no risk of fetal complications in this test.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Deepti Verma
OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Practicing since :2009
Answered : 5064 Questions
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