Fetal anatomy screening at 11–14 weeks’ ultrasonography, comparison of TAUSG and TVUSG

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the success of fetal anatomy screening at 11–14 weeks’ ultrasonography and also to compare the superiority by performing fetal anatomy screening for both transabdominal and transvaginal probes.
METHODS: A total of 73 patients who applied to Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Perinatology Department for 11–14 weeks of screening tests between May 2018 and December 2018 were evaluated. It was designed as a prospective, single-center clinical study. Fetal anatomical structures were determined by reference to the guideline published by the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology for first-trimester ultrasound and were evaluated as normal, abnormal, and unevaluated both for transabdominal and transvaginal probes.
RESULTS: Nasal bone and nuchal translucency were found to be seen at a higher rate in transabdominal ultrasound. The heart, kidneys, and bladder were significantly higher in transvaginal ultrasound.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In the 11–14-week ultrasonography, the anatomical evaluation of the fetus is possible in addition to the screening test, and transvaginal ultrasound is a complement to the transabdominal ultrasound evaluation. All anomalies cannot be detected in 11–14 weeks of ultrasonography and it is not appropriate to replace the ultrasonography of 18–23 weeks. The evaluation should be completed with transvaginal ultrasound examination when suspicion of anomaly occurs, some structures with abdominal ultrasound cannot be visualized, or when image quality is insufficient due to obesity.