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Should Ultrasound Scanning in Pregnancy be Performed by Indication Only?

L. Chitty

Institute of Child Health and University College Hospital, London, United Kingdom

Key Points

• There is little scientific support for routine foetal anomaly scanning using ultrasound.
  
  
• Detection of foetal abnormalities during the second trimester depends in part on the sonographer having sufficient time (and skill) to examine the foetus in detail.
  
  
• Compared with routine scanning, there are several advantages to select screening of women identified by other prenatal tests as having risk factors for foetal abnormalities.
  
  
• Serious consideration should now be given to a selective screening policy.

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