EP18.32: Increased nuchal translucency and cystic hygroma: pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

To assess the adverse outcomes in pregnancies with increased nuchal translucency (NT) and cystic hygroma (CH). Retrospective, longitudinal study, carried out over 3 years period. Fetuses with increased NT above the 95th centile (group NT) or CH (group CH) at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation were investigated. Structural/chromosomal anomaly rates and perinatal outcomes were analysed. SPSS programme was used to analyse the data. Among the 1372 first trimester US carried out during the period of study, 43 increased NT (3.1%) and 13 CH (0.9%) have been detected. Average echographic term was of 12 weeks + 5 days. Karyotype confirmed aneuploidy's existence in 67.9% of the cases, with 55.5% in group CH compared with 12.4% in group NT (⟨0,05). Turner syndrome was the most frequent aneuploidy in group CH (40,3%). In group NT, it was Trisomy 21 (57.7%) (p⟨0,05). The rate of adverse outcome (spontaneous abortion, termination of pregnancy, serious structural anomalies) was 81% in group CH compared with 21% in group NT(p⟨0,05). In chromosomally normal pregnancies, the rate of fetus with no visible serious structural anomalies was 47.4% in group CH compared with 94.2% in group NT (p⟨0,05). Neonatal outcome and malformation rate in fetuses with increased NT or CH are different, even with normal karyotype. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetal nuchal translucency thickness at the first trimester is indispensable.