**Diagnosis of Down syndrome with nt ultrasound** One of the diagnostic methods is ultrasound. Ultrasound measurement of nt, which is the liquid behind the neck of the fetus, can give the doctor accurate information about whether the child has Down syndrome. ### **NT ultrasound** nt is a collection of fluid under the skin at the back of the fetus's neck. When your fetus is between 11 weeks and 13 weeks and six days old, it can be measured using an ultrasound. All babies have fluid, but many babies with Down syndrome have more. NT ultrasound is a screening test that evaluates whether your baby is likely to have Down syndrome. A screening test can only put your baby at risk for Down syndrome, while a diagnostic test like CVS or amniocentesis will give you a definitive diagnosis. Combining an NT ultrasound with a blood test, often as a triple test or a combination test, provides a more accurate result. The blood test measures levels of the free hormone beta-hCG and a protein called PAPP-A. Babies with Down syndrome have high levels of hCG and low levels of PAPP-A. ### **In what case do you need to do more tests?** NT ultrasound cannot definitively confirm whether your baby is injured or not. However, it can help you decide whether to have a diagnostic test. ### **How is NT ultrasound performed?** NT ultrasound should be performed between 11 weeks and 13 weeks and six days of pregnancy. Ultrasound is technically difficult before 11 weeks because the baby is so small and after 14 weeks any excess fluid may be absorbed by the baby's developing lymphatic system. Ultrasound is usually performed through the abdomen, but sometimes it is necessary to have a vaginal ultrasound, which provides better views. There is no risk to you or your baby and it should not be too uncomfortable. Read about vaginal ultrasound in the Maltrasonde overview. **For more information on pregnancy ultrasounds, you can contact Dr. Seif's radiology and ultrasound center. Dr. Saif's ultrasound center contact numbers: 88553310** ### **Conclusion** Every woman has a risk of having a child with Down syndrome, and this risk increases with age. To calculate the risk, the sensor enters your age and measurements from your NT ultrasound into the database. This shows that the risk is the same for all women your age, known as background risk. Your ultrasound measurements will be combined with your age to create your individual risk for this pregnancy. This may be higher or lower than your background risk. An extensive study of more than 100,000 pregnancies found that about 75 percent of babies with Down syndrome are correctly identified using this method. When combined with a blood test, the detection rate is around 90%. However, to achieve this detection rate, it is important that NT is accurately measured. For this reason, strict standards are designed so that every sonographer performs exactly the same. To use the database to calculate the risk of infection https://www.babycenter.ca/a544491/nuchal-translucency-nt-ultrasound