Sonographic Dimension of Fetal Nuchal Translucency in Kano Metropolis: A single Center Study

Abstract

Background: Nuchal Translucency Thickness (NTT) is a hypo-echoic region of subcutaneous fluid accumulation in the posterior neck region at the  level of the cervical spine between the skin and soft tissues and is mostly found at 11–13 weeks of fetal gestation. It is visualised with a mid-sagittal  ultrasound view of the fetus in a neutral position. The NTT provides a risk assessment for chromosomal abnormalities which has been used as a  marker of possible fetal abnormalities. Hence, the justification to conduct the present study.

Aim: To establish the mean fetal nuchal translucency thickness with corresponding gestational age (GA) and to assess the correlation between  Crown Rump Length (CRL), GA, and NTT among apparently healthy pregnant women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 apparently normal consenting pregnant women in their late first trimester in the  Radiology department of Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano from February 2021 to May 2021. Ultrasonographic measurements of  the crown-rump length (CRL), gestational age (GA), and NTT were performed on pregnancies within 11 to 13 weeks of gestation. Their 2.5th,  25th, median and 97.5th percentiles of the NTT, GA, and CRL were determined using SPSS version 23 (IBM, 2017). Indicate correlation… as part of  the analysis.

Results: Median NTT at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation was found as 3.0±0.10mm. The NT thickness increased with increasing CRL and gestational  week in the first trimester. The correlation coefficient between NTT and CRL as well as GA were 0.472 and 0.451, respectively.

Conclusion: The  overall mean NTT in Kano fetuses was determined. These should be useful for first-trimester screening in ruling out potential fetal chromosomal  abnormalities in Kano, Nigeria.