Sonographic Indications of Fetal Chromosome Abnormalities

"Genetic ultrasound" is a refined technique in prenatal diagnostics. It aims to estimate as accurately as possible and non-invasively, the individual risk of a fetal chromosome abnormality. In conventional prenatal sonography (malformation screening) conspicuous fetal malformations are searched for selectively; naturally chromosomal anomalies of the fetus cannot be detected in this case. On the other hand chromosome abnormalities are ruled out or detected by prenatal invasive methods, such as amniotic fluid puncture while structural fetal malformations are not detected. However, every invasive diagnosis carries a certain risk of complications (miscarriage, hemorrhages, pains).