Ultrasound during pregnancy: a discussion. Interview by Max Allen

Prenatal screening by ultrasound is increasing in the United States. In 1990, 52 percent of mothers who had live births received ultrasound, compared with 48 percent in 1989 (Monthly Vital Stat Rep 1993; 42:2(S):6). A recent multicenter, randomized study of 15,151 low-risk pregnant women, conducted by the Routine Antenatal Diagnostic Imaging With Ultrasound (RADIUS) Study Group, reported no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between women who received no ultrasound scan and women who received two scans during pregnancy (N Engl J Med 1993; 329:821-827). Ewigman et al concluded, "The adoption of routine ultrasound screening in the United States would add considerably to the cost of care in pregnancy, with no improvement in perinatal outcome."