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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System
Published on: May 5, 2018
Is the nuchal index increased in fetuses with congenital structural heart defects?
Leanne S Dahlgren1, Walter J Duncan, Duncan F Farquarhson
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Objectives:
To determine if the Nuchal index (NIx) is increased in euploid fetuses with structural congenital heart defects (CHD).
Methods:
Euploid fetuses with CHD between 18 and 24 weeks gestation were identified. The next fetus meeting the same criteria with a normal fetal echocardiogram were selected as a control. The NIx [(mean nuchal thickness /mean biparietal diameter) x 100] and cardiac axis (CA; degrees) were calculated for each fetus. Standard descriptive tests and two-tailed t test were used.
Results:
The NIx in the abnormal (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups were 9.10 (2.35) and 7.54 (p = 0.04) and CA was 55.8 degrees and 48.6 degrees (p = 0.02), respectively.
Conclusions:
The NIx and CA were significantly different in fetuses with CHD. A prospective study to confirm these findings and determine clinical utility is warranted.
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