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Glossary about Prenatal Diagnosis and Ultrasound
AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index): Amniotic Fluid Indes is a measurement of the amniotic fluid (water) around the baby using ultrasound.
AFP (Alpha phetoprotein): Alphaphetoprotein (AFP) is a protein of fetal origin. This substance is present in amniotic fluid and in woman's blood. Low values of AFP can be associate to Down syndrome, while values more elevate can be associate to pathology of the neurale tube (bifid thorn, anencefalia). AFP levels are usually undetectable in the blood of healthy nonpregnant adults. An elevated level of AFP suggests the presence of germ cell tumor.
AMNIOCENTESIS: aspiration of amniotic fluid, usually transabdominally, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
BPD (Bi-Parietal Diameter): ultrasound measurement of the head of a fetus.
CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITY: variation in the number or the structure of the chromosomes in the cells of a person, because of them can manifest pathologies of varied kind, like Down Syndrome.
CHROMOSOME: structural carrier of hereditary characteristics, found in the nucleus of every cell. A certain number of chromosomes is characteristic of each species of plant and animal; e.g., the human has 46 chromosomes.
CORDOCENTESIS: percutaneous puncture of the umbilical vein under ultrasonographic guidance to obtain a fetal blood sample.
CRL (Crown-rump-lenght):the distance from the crown of the head to the breech in embryos and in fetuses.
CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling): diagnostic test usually performed between the 10th and 12th weeks of pregnancy in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the placenta and examined to detect genetic abnormalities in a fetus. Also called villocentesis.
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY: the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cardiovascular abnornmalities and in recording the size, motion, and composition of various cardiac structures. Also called ultrasound cardiography.
GENETIC ULTRASOUND: also called Genetic Sonography, is a technique in which physical features of the fetus are examined to detect whether there is at increased risk for Down syndrome, or other chromosomal abnormalities.
IUGR (Intrauterine growth retardation): Intrauterine growth restriction describes a fetus whose weight is below the 10th percentile for gestational age. This condition may be suspected if the size of the mother's uterus is small and is usually confirmed by ultrasound
INVASIVE PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS (chorionic villous sampling, amniocentesis, cordocentesis): tecniques of prenatal diagnosis for a withdrawal of amniotic fluid, cells or fetal blood by means of puncture of the uterus under ultrasonographic guidance.
KARYOTYPE: the characterization of the chromosomal complement of an individual or a species, including number, form, and size of the chromosomes.
NUCAL TRANSLUCENCY (NT): a technique for using ultrasound to measure fluid behind the neck of the foetus, usually at 10 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. If excessive, it implies a substantially increased risk for chromosomal disorders or other fetal patologies.
TCD (Transcerebellar Diameter): ultrasound measurement of the cerebellum in the head of the fetus.
TRIPLE-TEST: also called triple screen, is an investigation performed during the second trimester of the pregnancy, to evaluate the risk for chromosomal disordder and/or the NTD diseases.
Prenatal Diagnosis - WebPath, Univ. of Utah (US)
Chorionic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis: Recommendations for Prenatal Counseling (CDC)
Pagina redatta a cura del Dott. Giovanni Zerlotin
