title
home divider head and neck divider brain divider face divider spine divider chest divider abdomen divider genitourinary divider extremities
Nuchal Area
toggle
18 weeks a b  
       
19 weeks c d d
  In these images, localized fluid motion causes dark apprarance (arrow). Dark fluid is not present in adjacent frame, confirming that this is an artifact. This finding has no clinical significance.
24 weeks c c  
  As gestation progresses, subcutaneous fat can make the nuchal area appear prominant (arrow).  
26 weeks c c  
  Note normal subcutaneous fat (arrows). On sonography, greater than 5 mm of tissue and/or edema in the nuchal area is considered abnormal before 24 weeks. Beyond this point in gestation, the diagnosis of nuchal thickening should be made with caution due to the normal increase in fetal subcutaneous fat.