Prospective ranking of the sonographic markers for aneuploidy: Data of 2143 prenatal cytogenetic diagnoses referred for abnormalities on ultrasound

Objective: To design a scheme to rank sonographic anomalies as indicators of aneuploidy and record the distribution of data from 2143 prenatal amniotic fluid/chorionic villous sample diagnoses referred for karyotyping because of fetal anomalies detected with ultrasound. Methods: In all cases the records of sonographic anomalies were obtained prior to karyotyping. A cascade of seven prospective categories of ultrasound anomalies was chosen and the data were included in the highest compatible sonography category. The categories were in descending order: (I) combined central nervous system (CNS)/cranial shape and cardiac anomalies (excluding spina bifida and anencephaly); (II) key anomaly present (exomphalos/intrauterine growth restriction/duodenal atresia/cystic hygroma/fetal hydrops/talipes – with other multiple anomalies); (III) CNS ± other abnormality (excluding choroid plexus cyst, spina bifida, anencephaly); (IVa) increased nuchal translucency – first trimester ± other abnormality; (IVb) increased nuchal thickening – second trimester ± other abnormality; (V) cardiac anomaly ± other abnormality; (VI) other markers of aneuploidy (pyelectasis/two vessel cord/echogenic bowel/short femur); and (VII) other (mostly isolated) malformations. Results: There were 412/2143 (19.2%) chromosome abnormalities detected in this sonographically abnormal group. Overall, the prevalence of aneuploidy significantly ranged from 51 to 3% according to the above I–VII ultrasound categories and from approximately 1–80% for individual ultrasound anomalies. Likelihood ratios were derived for many ultrasound anomalies for several aneuploidy groups: trisomies of 13; 18; and 21; 45,X and 45,X mosaics; triploidy; other autosomal duplications and/or deletions; and other (than 45,X) sex chromosomal aneuploidies. Conclusion: It is suggested this data could be used to assist pre‐procedural counselling of patients after the ultrasound scan in tertiary referral centres for prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis.