First-trimester screening — increased nuchal translucency
Pregnant patient, 33 years old, singleton pregnancy, 12 weeks and 3 days.
Combined first-trimester screening.
Transabdominal approach, fetus in neutral position, nuchal translucency measured according to standardized technical criteria.
Nuchal translucency of 3.8 mm, above the expected value for gestational age. Nasal bone present. Remaining biometrics consistent with gestational age.
Ductus venosus with a normal flow waveform pattern.
Normal variant requiring follow-up · Fetal aneuploidy · Associated congenital heart disease
Increased nuchal translucency, referred for genetic counseling and further workup.
Key points
- Increased nuchal translucency is a risk marker, not a standalone diagnosis.
- Technical standardization of the measurement is critical to the reliability of the finding.
- The finding requires clear, careful communication with the patient about next steps.
Illustrative, anonymized case for educational purposes only. Does not represent a real patient and does not replace individualized medical evaluation.
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