Ultrasound scanners use powerful ultrasounds to take pictures of the inside of the body, allowing the doctor to diagnose many different problems without subjecting the patient to invasive surgery. Fetal medicine uses ultrasound scanners (also known as sonograms) to check on the development of the fetus, which allow doctors to view the development of the fetus in a safe, noninvasive environment.
Detection of abnormalities in fetuses
Ultrasound scans are also used to detect fetal abnormalities; fetal abnormalities are any deviation from the normal structure or function that exists in the fetus, this can include abnormalities of the cardiovascular system, urinary tract, internal organs, nervous system, musculoskeletal system or any other abnormality.
It is important for doctors to do regular ultrasound scans during pregnancy to monitor the development of the fetus, the first scans are done between 11 and 14 weeks gestation.
Since the date of gestation fetal abnormalities are detected
This initial evaluation is used to determine whether there is a risk of fetal abnormality; thereafter, ultrasound scans will be done every 4 to 6 weeks to monitor fetal development.
If there are concerns about a fetal abnormality, doctors do a more detailed scan to look for more details; ultrasound scans can detect a wide variety of fetal abnormalities.
Types of abnormalities that can be detected during an ultrasound
Some of the most common fetal abnormalities that can be detected with an ultrasound scan include neural tube defects such as spina bifida, heart defects, changes in renal anatomy, aneuploidy, and changes in skull size.
Other tissue changes, such as connective tissue defects or abnormal bone development, may also be detected, but more detailed analysis is sometimes needed to visualize these abnormalities.
In an ultrasound scan to detect fetal abnormalities, the doctor will first evaluate the size of the fetus to determine whether it is appropriate for gestational age.
The usefulness of the ultrasound scanner in pregnancies
This is done by measuring the length of the fetus’s body, the circumference of the head and abdomen, and the biparietal and femoral diameters; this can help detect intrauterine growth retardation, indicating that the fetus is not growing at the appropriate rate.
Abdominal scans will be used to determine if there is any change in the amniotic fluid or the placenta; ultrasound scanning will also be used to evaluate the fetal anatomy and monitor the amniotic fluid.
Ultrasound scanners are also useful for preventing unpleasant situations later
Ultrasound scans are also used to look for traces of intrauterine bleeding; intrauterine bleeding can be a sign of an early miscarriage and therefore doctors turn to the ultrasound scan to evaluate it.
As pregnancy progresses, doctors check the size and shape of the fetal heart, evaluate the fetus’s kidneys and lungs, and inspect the fetus’s abdominal organs.
Ultrasound helps the specialist to order special medical examinations if it is obtained with an abnormality
If there are unusual symptoms and an ultrasound scan suggests the possibility of an abnormality, doctors may do a series of additional tests such as Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate blood flow in the brain.
In addition to previous tests, amniocentesis to confirm sex and make a more accurate diagnosis, umbilical cord biopsy to check for chromosomal problems, or placental biopsy to check for infection.
Importance of ultrasound in pregnancy
An ultrasound scan is a vital priority for the correct diagnosis of fetal abnormalities; this allows doctors to see into the uterus during pregnancy and helps them make the proper diagnosis.
These scans are safe and non-invasive, which means they are less harmful to both the fetus and the mother; therefore, it is strongly recommended that doctors and patients undergo regular ultrasound scans during pregnancy to monitor the development of the fetus and rule out the possibility of fetal abnormalities.
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