NUCHAL (NT) SCAN: DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUNDS IN LONDON
Nuchal translucency (NT) is assessed during our Early Fetal Scans from 10-14 Weeks. We also offer a private Nuchal Scan in London as a second opinion scan.
We have vast experience in measuring NT – our YouTube training videos have millions of views worldwide.
Nuchal Translucency at London Pregnancy Clinic
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Worried about increased NT? – second opinion scans available with Fetal Medicine Doctors.
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Our Nuchal Translucency measurement comes with a wider range of anomaly screening using ultrasound available at the point of scan.
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We consider NT from the earliest stage at our 10 Week Scan.
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10-week anomaly scan – our revolutionary scan to exclude 10 severe structural anomalies at 10 weeks. This scan is designed to complement NIPT screening as a comprehensive structural and chromosomal anomaly screening solution.
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Private early pregnancy scan at 12-16 weeks to exclude >100 different structural anomalies
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Anomaly scan + NIPT options – harmony or panorama NIPT from 9 weeks (from £490)
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Scans and NIPT appointment with our fetal medicine specialist doctors and specialist sonographers with extensive NHS and international experience.
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Same day, evening, and weekend appointments
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NIPT results in 2-4 working days as early as 9 weeks
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Latest 3D/4D ultrasound technology
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5* rated service on Google, Trustpilot & Doctify
NT Scan in London Explained
The nuchal translucency (NT) scan is a sonographic (imaging) phenomena, which measures the amount of fluid in the filled area under the skin and at the back of the baby’s neck. NT is a non-specific (surrogate) marker of fetal well-being that may be increased in the case of trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome), Edward’s syndrome, Patau’s syndrome, fetal heart defects, or other structural anomalies. This means that even babies with normal development may experience increased nuchal translucency – higher NT does not automatically indicate a fetal abnormality.
During the screening test, if the baby is found to have only an increased NT without any other genetic or chromosomal anomalies, it is believed that the nuchal fluid will resolve on its own and the child will be completely healthy. A small proportion of babies with an isolated increase in NT have genetic syndromes or anomalies, which are undetectable before birth.
The NHS consider any NT thickness measurement below 3.5 mm to be normal. However, normal measurements do not rule out all anomalies for your baby but do indicate a lower chance of having a chromosomal problem. More than 50% of babies with severe heart defects, 25% of babies with Down’s syndrome, and the majority of babies with other anomalies will have had a completely normal nuchal dating scan.
In order to gain a better understanding of your baby’s well-being, we use advanced technology to perform an early fetal scan, which is a thorough top-to-toe examination of the fetal anatomy. This allows us to exclude many fetal anomalies by having a closer look at the heart, spine, and brain, among other organs. Additionally, we use a nuchal translucency scan to assess the chance of trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome). The combination of these approaches is a much more effective way to exclude anomalies than NT measurements alone.
With our expertise and technology, we are able to screen for structural anomalies from 10 weeks (approximate prevalence in the first trimester):
- Acrania (1:1,000)
- Alobar Holoprosencephaly (1:1,300)
- Spina Bifida (1:2,000)
- Absence of arms, hands, legs or feet (1:2,000)
- Encephalocele (1:5,000)
- Exomphalos (Omphalocele) with liver (1:3,500)
- Amniotic Band Anomaly (1:7,000)
- Body Stalk Anomaly (1:7,500)
- Sirenomelia (1:60,000)
- Conjoined Twins (1% of monochorionic twins)
In comparison, the prevalence of the chromosomal conditions screened for by NIPT:
- Down’s Syndrome (1:700)
- Edward’s Syndrome (1:1400)
- Patau’s Syndrome (1:5000)
If you take the pregnancy test at 12+ weeks we are able to screen for >200 structural fetal anomalies.
NT is an important non-specific marker of your baby’s well-being, where babies with an increased NT measurement require further evaluation.
We routinely measure NT thickness during the early fetal scan; however, we do not use this to calculate your baby’s chances of having Trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome). Instead, we use NIPT, which has a much higher detection rate and a lower false positive rate compared to NT measurement.
Alternatively, we use 3.5 mm (NT thickness) as a cut-off for the referral of expecting mothers to a fetal medicine unit for further counselling in accordance with NHS guidelines.
Early fetal echocardiography or early echo is a special detailed scan for the baby’s heart, which we can perform as early as from 12 weeks.
We highly recommend this scan for all babies with increased nuchal translucency (NT) measurements, fetal anomalies, or other unusual findings detected at the 11-13 weeks scan.
NT thickness measurements are included in the early fetal scan and can be done for free during the advanced early fetal assessment.
Please book the Early Fetal Scan or our all-inclusive early fetal reassurance package: ultrasound scanning and NIPT working together, which is an optimal combination for excluding fetal anomalies in the first trimester (done at 10-13 weeks).
Get in touch with our team to learn more about our Nuchal Scan in London done at 12 weeks.
10-week scan and NIPT is the best option for early first trimester screening. It is an advanced test that checks for both the most severe structural defects and most common chromosomal abnormalities.
This test is optimal together with the early fetal scan at 16 weeks as a part of our EARLY FETAL REASSURANCE PACKAGE.
Prior to the invention of NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing), NT thickness was the most effective screening method for trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome).
About 8-10 years ago, we were actively involved training medical professionals (doctors and sonographers) in performing the NT assessment. As a part of this program, we had created training videos that have been uploaded to YouTube. Overtime, these videos have become one of the most popular NT videos with nearly 700,000 views.
If you click the link below, you will be able to watch these videos, although we would like you to be aware that they are old and have not been updated, because when they were created, 10 years ago, before the era of NIPT, they represented the most advanced information we had about NT measurements.
