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Updated: May 21, 2026
A Novel Use of Three-dimensional High-frequency Ultrasonography for Early Pregnancy Characterization in the Mouse
Published on: October 24, 2017
Can third trimester ultrasound predict the presentation of the first twin at delivery?
Rachelle Schwartz1, Anna Fuchs, Barak Rosenn
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY 10019, USA. raschwartz@chpnet.org
Objective:
To determine the ability of early sonogram to predict the presentation of twin A at birth.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all twin pregnancies evaluated at our Fetal Evaluation Unit from 2007 to 2009. Sonogram records were reviewed for the presentation of twin A at seven gestational age intervals and inpatient medical records were reviewed for the presentation of twin A at delivery. The positive predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of presentation as determined by ultrasound, at each gestational age interval, for the same presentation at delivery were calculated.
Results:
Two hundred and thirty-eight twin pregnancies met inclusion criteria. A total of 896 ultrasounds were reviewed. The positive predictive value of cephalic presentation of twin A as determined by ultrasound for the persistence of cephalic presentation at delivery reached 95% after 28 weeks gestation. The positive predictive value for noncephalic presentation as established by sonogram for noncephalic at delivery was >90% after 32 weeks gestation.
Conclusions:
The presentation of the first twin at delivery can be determined by sonogram by the 32nd week of gestation in over 90% of twin pregnancies.
