[Reliability of ultrasound pregnancy screening]

This study investigates the reliability of ultrasonographic screenings for detecting fetal malformations in pregnancy. The data from 1505 screening examinations of pregnant women who underwent routine checks at the Department of Obstetrics of the University of Vienna, were compared with the anomalies diagnosed in the newborn of the same collective. Fetal malformations were diagnosed in 28 screening cases. The statistical distribution of these anomalies is shown for the different organ systems. In 5 newborn malformations were found, which had not been diagnosed sonographically. Another 23 newborn had minor malformations in regions that are not included in the routine screening ultrasound. The results show a high accuracy of the sonographic screening examination, with the exception of the median facial region and the large vessels of the base of the heart. The fact that not all of the cardiac malformations were diagnosed prompts the performance of an extended sonographic inspection of the fetal heart within the framework of routine screening.