Dear Ultrasound Insider,
Fetuses with increased nuchal translucency have a higher risk of chromosomal anomalies and genetic syndromes. But nuchal septations are also a powerful -- and independent -- risk factor that needs to be documented during first-trimester ultrasound screening, according to researchers from Baylor College of Medicine.
In a retrospective study of more than 3,000 patients, the Baylor team found that nuchal septations on ultrasound had an odds ratio of 40 for chromosomal abnormalities. Meanwhile, the presence of nuchal translucency alone of at least the 95th percentile had an odds ratio of 20.9.
Our coverage of the paper in the January issue of the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine is this edition's Insider Exclusive, which you can access before our regular members.
In other news, shoulder ultrasound was confirmed to have a significant effect on management and clinical decision-making in patients being treated for shoulder pain. It also had a statistically significant effect on the invasiveness of patient treatment. Click here for our coverage.
How should BI-RADS 3 lesions be followed up? Preliminary findings from a recent study showed that a yearly interval did not miss any cancers when compared with a six-month follow-up. What's more, a yearly follow-up strategy would sharply lower the patient recall and biopsy rates while increasing the positive biopsy rate. Click here to learn more.
Repeat fetal ultrasound screenings performed because of an incomplete initial exam may not always be necessary, according to another study. How often do these repeat exams actually detect abnormal fetal anatomy? Click here to find out.
Meanwhile, deep learning has been found to accurately differentiate between benign and malignant breast tumors on ultrasound shear-wave elastography studies. It also outperforms methods typically used in computer-aided diagnosis software. Get the details here.
Can mathematical functions from 19th-century France really improve the quality of ultrasound images? Yes, they can, according to a group from the University of Rochester. Find out how by clicking here.
Is there a topic you'd like to see covered your Ultrasound Community? As always, please feel free to drop me a line.
