II. Definitions

  1. Nuchal Translucency
    1. Posterior fetal neck lucency by Ultrasound

III. Indications

  1. Early Antenatal Screening for Down Syndrome and birth defects

IV. Protocol

  1. Timing: 11-13 weeks gestation
  2. Technique
    1. Ultrasound used to measure the lucency of the posterior fetal neck
    2. Measurement requires additional special training and certification

V. Precautions

  1. Do not use Nuchal Translucency alone (combine with serum Aneuploidy Screening)
    1. Exception: Multiple Gestation pregnancies (serum testing is inaccurate)
  2. Abnormal Nuchal Translucency is associated with both Aneuploidy and structural defects
    1. Obtain detailed Fetal SurveyUltrasound at 18 to 22 weeks if abnormal Nuchal Translucency
    2. Obtain fetal Echocardiogram if abnormal Nuchal Translucency (per ACOG guidelines)

VI. Efficacy: Down Syndrome detection

VII. Differential Diagnosis: Increased Nuchal Translucency

  1. Down Syndrome and other Genetic Syndromes
  2. Major Congenital Heart Defect
  3. Great Vessel defect
  4. Fetal malformations, dysplasias, deformations and disruptions
  5. False Positives (Nuchal Translucency increases 15-20% per week in normal pregnancies)

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Related Studies

Ontology: Nuchal Translucency Screen (C1449832)

Definition (MSHFRE) Mesure échographique prénatale de l'épaisseur or de la transparence de la région sous-cutanée à la base du cou et de la nuque du foetus au cours des premières 11 à 14 semaines de gestation. Une épaisseur anormale ou une transparence nucale sont associées à des risques accrus d'anomalies chromosomiques. (Nicolaides et al., 1992)
Definition (MSH) A prenatal ultrasonography measurement of the soft tissue behind the fetal neck. Either the translucent area below the skin in the back of the fetal neck (nuchal translucency) or the distance between occipital bone to the outer skin line (nuchal fold) is measured.
Definition (NCI) An ultrasonic examination of the fetus in the late first trimester to measure the clear space at the back of the fetal neck to assess risk of genetic or cardiac abnormalities.(NICHD)
Concepts Diagnostic Procedure (T060)
MSH D048208
Swedish Mätning av nackuppklarning
Czech nuchální translucence - měření
Finnish Niskaturvotuksen mittaaminen
Russian ZATYLOCHNOI CHASTI PROZRACHNOSTI IZMERENIE, PLODA ZATYLOCHNOI CHASTI PROZRACHNOSTI IZMERENIE, ЗАТЫЛОЧНОЙ ЧАСТИ ПРОЗРАЧНОСТИ ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ, ПЛОДА ЗАТЫЛОЧНОЙ ЧАСТИ ПРОЗРАЧНОСТИ ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ
Japanese 項部透明帯測定, 項部透過性スクリーニング, 後頸部透過性測定, 項部透過性測定
English Fold Screenings, Nuchal, Screening, Nuchal Fold, Nuchal Fold Screening, Fold Screening, Nuchal, Screenings, Nuchal Fold, Fold Measurement, Nuchal, Fold Measurements, Nuchal, Measurement, Nuchal Fold, Measurements, Nuchal Fold, Nuchal Fold Measurement, Nuchal Fold Measurements, Nuchal Fold Screenings, Nuchal Translucency Screen, NT, nuchal fold scan, Measurement, Nuchal Translucency, Nuchal Translucency Measurements, Nuchal Translucency Measurement, Nuchal Translucency Screenings, Nuchal Translucency Screening
Polish Pomiar przezierności karkowej płodu
Norwegian Måling av nakketranslucens, Måling av nakkefold, Nakkefoldmåling, Nakkefoldskanning, Nakkefoldscanning, Scanning av nakketranslucens, Skanning av nakketranslucens
Portuguese Medida da Translucência da Nuca, Medida da Translucência Nucal, Medição da Translucência da Nuca, Medição da Translucência Nucal
French Mesure de la clarté de la nuque, Mesure de la clarté nucale
German Nuchale Transluzenzmessung, Nuchales Transluzenz-Screening
Dutch Meting, nekplooi-, Nekplooimeting
Italian Misurazione della traslucidità nucale
Spanish Medida de Translucencia Nucal