For Physicians. By Physicians.
For Physicians. By Physicians.
The nuchal fold (NF) thickness is a measurement performed on prenatal ultrasound, and is the distance from the outer edge of the occipital bone to the outer edge of the skin in the midline. While both measurements are at the level of the fetal head or neck, a nuchal fold thickness, which is only performed in the second trimester, should not be confused with a first trimester nuchal translucency (NT) measurement.
If an enlarged second trimester nuchal fold measurement is obtained, next steps should include
Note: ACOG guidance recommends offering prenatal screening for aneuploidy or invasive, diagnostic testing for all pregnant women regardless of age or aneuploidy risk
Second trimester thickened nuchal fold has a high specificity for aneuploidy. ACOG and SMFM define an abnormal nuchal fold as ≥ 6mm between 15 and 20 weeks of gestation. It is the most powerful second trimester sonographic marker for Trisomy 21.
ACOG Practice Bulletin 226: Screening for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities
ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 162: Prenatal Diagnostic Testing for Genetic Disorders
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