Detailed fetal anatomy screening by ultrasound – a detailed fetal ultrasound scan that inspires confidence in prospective parents | detailed anatomy ultrasound pursuant to DEGUM 2 / DEGUM 3
Detailed anatomy ultrasound with high-resolution ultrasound technology (also known as detailed fetal ultrasound or organ ultrasound) is an important aspect for parents-to-be during pregnancy as this examination method helps to rule out numerous serious developmental disorders in pregnancy. Detailed anatomy ultrasound serves to detect or rule out possible malformations of fetal organs or diseases and developmental disorders that may potentially already occur in the unborn child. DEGUM 2 / DEGUM 3 fetal anatomy screening is part of the specialist field of prenatal diagnostic testing, which uses high-resolution ultrasound. Detailed fetal anatomy screening with high-resolution ultrasound is usually performed between the 20th and 22nd week of pregnancy and is a more in-depth examination compared with the usual prenatal care.
What will be examined with detailed fetal anatomy screening by ultrasound?
Detailed anatomy ultrasound according to the DEGUM 2 / DEGUM 3 guidelines is extraordinarily significant in all stages of pregnancy. For example, detailed fetal anatomy screening allows for the detection of potential anomalies in fetal organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys or lungs. Furthermore, the integrity of the vertebral column, abdominal wall and lips will be checked. Detailed fetal anatomy screening may also help to evaluate the state of the uterus, placenta and umbilical cord as well as the quantity of amniotic fluid. In addition, detailed fetal anatomy screening may include fetal echocardiography (a special diagnostic ultrasound procedure that provides more detailed information about the heart), Doppler sonography (measurement of blood flow) and, possibly, 3D ultrasound. The latter procedure, in particular, is dependent upon the examination conditions (e.g. fetal position, abdominal wall thickness). If abnormal findings are detected, further non-invasive or invasive examinations may be useful for further evaluation.
In which cases should a detailed anatomy ultrasound scan be performed?
Detailed anatomy ultrasound is advisable, for instance, if abnormalities or complications occurred during a previous pregnancy. These may include malformations, chromosomal disorders or disturbances in fetal growth as well as maternal complications such as toxemia of pregnancy (preeclampsia) or diabetes mellitus in pregnancy (gestational diabetes). In addition, detailed fetal anatomy screening pursuant to the DEGUM 2 / DEGUM 3 guidelines may be useful if there is a family history of genetic disorders, if parents have passed on hereditary diseases or if the mother has developed a disease that may have an impact on the child (e.g. diabetes mellitus, hypertension), or if she was on medication or underwent an x-ray examination in early pregnancy.
Were there any problems in earlier periods of the pregnancy? Did the prenatal examinations reveal abnormalities? Is there a multiple pregnancy? Is the mother of advanced age?
All of these reasons may lead to the performance of detailed fetal anatomy screening by ultrasound.
The costs of DEGUM 2 / DEGUM 3 detailed fetal anatomy screening will be borne by statutory or private health insurance in case of a medical indication. If there is no medical indication, patients with statutory health insurance will have to pay for the detailed fetal anatomy screening out of their own pockets.
How will the detailed fetal ultrasound scan be performed and who will perform it?
A dedicated high-end high-resolution ultrasound device will be used to perform the detailed fetal anatomy screening by ultrasound and the examination will be performed by specially qualified gynecologists in centers of prenatal medicine.
Although detailed anatomy ultrasound helps to clarify a variety of uncertainties, it is not possible to recognize all congenital diseases prior to birth.
What may be achieved by detailed fetal anatomy screening?
Whether there is a high-risk pregnancy or not: Detailed fetal ultrasound helps to rule out or detect a variety of developmental disorders in pregnancy. Should any abnormal examination results be obtained, this will allow for optimal monitoring of pregnancy and, if possible, to positively influence the course of pregnancy, to already plan potential treatments during or after the pregnancy and to select a specialized maternal and pediatric hospital.
As a matter of fact, a detailed fetal ultrasound scan gives parents-to-be a sense of reassurance!