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Updated: Nov 21, 2025
High Frequency Ultrasound for the Analysis of Fetal and Placental Development In Vivo
Published on: November 8, 2018
Evaluation of chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variations in fetuses with ultrasonic soft markers
Meiying Cai1, Na Lin1, Xuemei Chen1
1Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou, China.
Background:
Some ultrasonic soft markers can be found during ultrasound examination. However, the etiology of the fetuses with ultrasonic soft markers is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic etiology and clinical value of chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variations (CNVs) in fetuses with ultrasonic soft markers.
Methods:
Among 1131 fetuses, 729 had single ultrasonic soft marker, 322 had two ultrasonic soft markers, and 80 had three or more ultrasonic soft markers. All fetuses underwent conventional karyotyping, followed by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis.
Results:
Among 1131 fetuses with ultrasonic soft markers, 46 had chromosomal abnormalities. In addition to the 46 fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities consistent with the results of the karyotyping analysis, the SNP array identified additional 6.1% (69/1131) abnormal CNVs. The rate of abnormal CNVs in fetuses with ultrasonic soft marker, two ultrasonic soft markers, three or more ultrasonic soft markers were 6.2%, 6.2%, and 5.0%, respectively. No significant difference was found in the rate of abnormal CNVs among the groups.
Conclusions:
Genetic abnormalities affect obstetrical outcomes. The SNP array can fully complement conventional karyotyping in fetuses with ultrasonic soft markers, improve detection rate of chromosomal abnormalities, and affect pregnancy outcomes.
