What does NT stand for?

The process combines blood tests with an assessment of nuchal translucency, which measures the build-up of fluid at the back of the foetus's neck, and is 75 per cent sensitive for Down's.

These will include nuchal translucency, fetal echocardiography, regular assessment of fetal growth and doppler examinations (Yu and Teoh, 200.

Locating each fetus and focusing in on their necks, the ultrasound assistant will take a number of pictures and take a few measurements of the fluid at the base of the necks to give to the obstetrician, who will compare the thickness of the nuchal translucency to each other as well as a "normal range" measurement.

In recent years, the practice also began offering breast MRI and MRI-guided breast biopsies (through an affiliation with West Mifflin Imaging); digital mammography, which is effective in detecting cancer in dense breast tissue; 3D ultrasound; measurement and documentation of fetal nuchal translucency for early diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities; and filmless presentation of expectant-mother-and-child images on DVD/CDs.

If it's available in your area, you'll also be offered a nuchal translucency screening, which is a type of ultrasound that's done at 11 to 13 weeks.

and the United Kingdom show that adding ultra sonography for nuchal translucency to the blood tests raises the detection rate to more than 90 percent.

Reflecting advances in medical technology and new clinical knowledge since publication of the 1996 edition, the new edition includes updates of the original protocols plus the addition of new protocols on topics such as vaginal birth after Cesarean delivery and West Nile virus; increased coverage of intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, teratology, and genetics; and new chapters on Doppler ultrasound, nuchal translucency, and AIDS in pregnancy.

Then, at my 12-week nuchal translucency scan (when the folds of skin on the baby's neck are measured to assess the risk of Down's syndrome), the doctor announced one of the twins had a one in ten chance of being a Down's syndrome baby - and a high risk of suffering from hydrocephalus (water on the brain).