Brachycephaly is ineffective for detection of Down syndrome in early midtrimester fetuses

A Borrell; D Costa; J M Martinez; B Puerto; A Carrio; J Ojuel; A Fortuny

doi:10.1016/s0378-3782(96)01784-7

Brachycephaly is ineffective for detection of Down syndrome in early midtrimester fetuses

Early Hum Dev. 1997 Jan 3;47(1):57-61. doi: 10.1016/s0378-3782(96)01784-7.

Authors

A Borrell¹, D Costa, J M Martinez, B Puerto, A Carrio, J Ojuel, A Fortuny

Affiliation

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona Medical School, Catalonia, Spain.

PMID: 9118829
DOI: 10.1016/s0378-3782(96)01784-7

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the value of fetal brachycephaly in the detection of Down syndrome at 13-18 weeks of pregnancy. The cephalic index (CI) was determined in 555 consecutive chromosomally normal fetuses, and in 38 chromosomal abnormalities, prior to amniocentesis. A CI > 0.85 was observed in 14% (2/14) of the fetuses with Down syndrome and in 11% of the normal fetuses. In conclusion, our data show that brachycephaly is not a useful marker for Down syndrome in early midtrimester fetuses.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cephalometry
Chromosome Aberrations
Down Syndrome / diagnosis*
Female
Gestational Age*
Head / abnormalities*
Head / diagnostic imaging*
Humans
Pregnancy
Ultrasonography, Prenatal*