Advancements in Prenatal Care: The Role of 3D Ultrasound Technology
Keywords:
Radiology, Ultrasound, Sonography, Pregnancy, Anomalies, Maternal care, Cleft lip.Abstract
Introduction:
The advent of 3D ultrasound technology promises to revolutionize prenatal care by potentially offering a quicker and more comprehensive assessment of fetal health. Despite its potential, the clinical relevance of the enhanced detail provided by 3D imaging remains uncertain. This systematic review aims to scrutinize the precision of 3D ultrasound in antenatal care across various demographics and stages of pregnancy.
Methods:
An extensive search was conducted across MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to gather relevant literature. The process involved merging citations from multiple sources, removing duplicates, and then rigorously evaluating the titles and summaries of the collected articles. The selection focused on studies involving high-risk populations, specifically those beyond the initial stage of care, suspected or confirmed to have fetal abnormalities, and referred for advanced evaluation.
Results:
The search process identified 45 studies, with no discrepancies in study inclusion between assessors. After the initial title screening, 33 abstracts were considered potentially relevant, with 27 studies ultimately meeting the stringent inclusion and validity criteria. The chosen studies displayed a diversity in design and outcomes, reflecting the characteristics of the populations involved. A majority, 21 studies, investigated unselected, general populations of pregnant women considered 'low-risk,' while the remaining six focused on high-risk groups with either a familial predisposition or preliminary screenings suggestive of fetal anomalies.
Conclusions:
The investigation into the efficacy of 2D versus 3D ultrasound in identifying specific conditions such as cleft lip and/or palate within low-risk groups has shown a significant variation in diagnostic accuracy. This variability underscores the need for further research to clarify the clinical benefits and limitations of 3D ultrasound in prenatal care, particularly in enhancing the precision of fetal assessments across different patient demographics and pregnancy stages.
