Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Normative curves of fetal nasal bone length for the ethnic Chinese population

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study is to determine the association between fetal nasal bone length (NBL) and gestational age (GA), biparietal diameter (BPD) and head circumference (HC) in women undergoing prenatal assessments and Down syndrome screening.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were obtained from 3,003 women with singleton pregnancies who underwent a prenatal ultrasound examination at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital between August 2006 and July 2009.

Results

Statistical analyses involved linear regression. NBL with GA, BPD and HC as measured between 14+0 and 35+6 weeks of gestation were linearly related.

Conclusions

Using multiple parameters(GA, BPD and HC) to estimate NBL is more accurate than using than using GA or BPD or HC alone, as indicated by the higher predictive value.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bromley B, Lieberman E, Shipp TD, Benacerraf BR (2002) Fetal nose bone length: a marker for Down syndrome in the second trimester. J Ultrasound Med 21:1387–1394

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bell R, Rankin J, Donaldson LJ (2003) Down’s syndrome: occurrence and outcome in the north of England, 1985–99. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 17:33–39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Van den Hof MC, Wilson RD (2005) Fetal soft markers in obstetric ultrasound. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 27:592–636

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Monni G, Zoppi MA, Ibba RM, Floris M, Manca F, Axiana C (2005) Nuchal translucency and nasal bone for trisomy 21 screening: single center experience. Croat Med J 46:786–791

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bunduki V, Ruano R, Miguelez J, Yoshizaki CT, Kahhale S, Zugaib M (2003) Fetal nasal bone length: reference range and clinical application in ultrasound screening for trisomy 21. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 21:156–160

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Otano L, Aiello H, Igarzabal L, Matayoshi T, Gadow EC (2002) Association between first trimester absence of fetal nasal bone on ultrasound and Down syndrome. Prenat Diagn 22:930–932

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cicero S, Bindra R, Rembouskos G, Spencer K, Nicolaides KH (2003) Integrated ultrasound and biochemical screening for trisomy 21 using fetal nuchal translucency, absent fetal nasal bone, free beta-hCG and PAPP-A at 11 to 14 weeks. Prenat Diagn 23:306–310

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Collado F, Bombard A, Li V, Julliard K, Aptekar L, Weiner Z (2005) Ethnic variation of fetal nasal bone length between 11–14 weeks’ gestation. Prenat Diagn 25:690–692

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sonek JD, McKenna D, Webb D, Croom C, Nicolaides K (2003) Nasal bone length throughout gestation: normal ranges based on 3537 fetal ultrasound measurements. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 21:152–155

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen M, Lee CP, Leung KY, Hui PW, Tang MH (2004) Pilot study on the midsecond trimester examination of fetal nasal bone in the Chinese population. Prenat Diagn 24:87–91

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kanagawa T, Fukuda H, Kinugasa Y, Son M, Shimoya K, Murata(ed) Y (2006) Mid-second trimester measurement of fetal nasal bone length in the Japanese population. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 32:403–407

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Jung E, Won HS, Lee PR, Kim A (2007) Ultrasonographic measurement of fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester in Korean population. Prenat Diagn 27:154–157

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Zelop CM, Milewski E, Brault K, Benn P, Borgida AF, Egan JF (2005) Variation of fetal nasal bone length in second-trimester fetuses according to race and ethnicity. J Ultrasound Med 24:1487–1489

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Shin JS, Yang JH, Chung JH, Kim MY, Ryu HM, Han (ed.) JY (2006) The relation between fetal nasal bone length and biparietal diameter in the Korean population. Prenat Diagn 26:321–323

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Shohat T, Romano-Zelekha O (2001) Ultrasonographic measurements of fetal femur length and biparietal diameter in an Israeli population. Isr Med Assoc J 3:166–168

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Nisbet D, Robinson H, Halliday J, de CL (2002) Australian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) Policy Statement on normal ultrasonic fetal measurements. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 42:101–103

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Cicero S, Bindra R, Rembouskos G, Tripsanas C, Nicolaides KH (2002) Fetal nasal bone length in chromosomally normal and abnormal fetuses at 11–14 weeks of gestation. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 11:400–402

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Cicero S, Curcio P, Papageorghiou A, Sonek J, Nicolaides K (2001) Absence of nasal bone in fetuses with trisomy 21 at 11–14 weeks of gestation: an observational study. Lancet 358:1665–1667

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Guis F, Ville Y, Vincent Y, Doumerc S, Pons JC, Frydman R (1995) Ultrasound evaluation of the length of the fetal nasal bones throughout gestation. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 5:304–307

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Sonek JD, Nicolaides KH (2002) Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of nasal bone abnormalities in three fetuses with Down syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol 186:139–141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Cusick W, Provenzano J, Sullivan CA, Gallousis FM, Rodis JF (2004) Fetal nasal bone length in euploid and aneuploid fetuses between 11 and 20 weeks’ gestation: a prospective study. J Ultrasound Med 23:1327–1333

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Gamez F, Ferreiro P, Salmean JM (2004) Ultrasonographic measurement of fetal nasal bone in a low-risk population at 19–22 gestational weeks. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 23:152–153

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Naraphut B, Uerpairojkit B, Chaithongwatthana S, Tannirandorn Y, Tanawattanacharoen S, Manotaya (ed.) S (2006) Nasal bone hypoplasia in trisomy 21 at 15 to 24 weeks’ gestation in A high risk Thai population. J Med Assoc Thai 89:911–917

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schluter PJ, Pritchard G, Gill MA (2007) Using ultrasonic fetal size measurements to estimate gestational age in Brisbane, Australia. Australas Radiol 51:46–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Merz E, Wellek S (1996) Normal fetal growth profile—a uniform model for calculating normal curves for current head and abdomen parameters and long limb bones. Ultraschall Med 17:153–162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Salomon LJ, Bernard JP, Ville Y (2007) Estimation of fetal weight: reference range at 20–36 weeks’ gestation and comparison with actual birth-weight reference range. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 29:550–555

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Odibo AO, Sehdev HM, Sproat L, Parra C, Odibo L, Dunn (ed.) L (2006) Evaluating the efficiency of using second-trimester nasal bone hypoplasia as a single or a combined marker for fetal aneuploidy. J Ultrasound Med 25:437–441 quiz 443

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants from the National Science Council (NSC97-2320-B-010-004 and NSC98-2314-B-350-002-MY3).

Conflict of interest statement

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    W.-H. Chiu, W.-H. Wang & F.-Y. Yang

  2. Central Clinic and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    W.-H. Chiu

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung Shan Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    W.-H. Chiu & S.-M. Lee

  4. Department of Orthopedics, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

    W.-H. Wang

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    W.-H. Chiu

  6. Department of Medical Research and Education, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    T.-H. Tung

  7. Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Chaoyang University of Technology, Wufong, Taichung, Taiwan

    S.-C. Horng

  8. Division of Biotechnology, Chang Gung University, Keelung, Taiwan

    Y.-s. Chen

Authors
  1. W.-H. Chiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T.-H. Tung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y.-s. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W.-H. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S.-M. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S.-C. Horng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. F.-Y. Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F.-Y. Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chiu, WH., Tung, TH., Chen, Ys. et al. Normative curves of fetal nasal bone length for the ethnic Chinese population. Ir J Med Sci 180, 73–77 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0520-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0520-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation