Hi,, I badly need answers,,
I am in my 14th eek now (13 weeks 1 day)
I had my NT scan y'day,, nothing's going good since the beginning,, during my scan, the radiologist detected that the nasal bone is absent/hypoplastic, I donno what it means,, she 1st said its nothing to worry about and that it'l grow sooner or later,, then she said it is one of the reasons for downs syndrome,, 1 in 700 get it,, she asked us to take a genetic blood test... this test result will then be analysed and if there is a possibility of downs syndrome, a sample will be collected from my uterus and then we'l know the results,, i.e whether we have to keep the baby or terminate it,,
I really don understand it,, y did she say its nothing to worry about and then said its about downs syndrome,,
Has anyone been through the same and delivered a healthy baby?
I have a doubt that the radiologist is making money... can that be possible? Because the whole procedure takes a lot of money,, frankly, more than what we can afford.. (shez not my regular radiologist either,, my radiologist is out of station,, )
My gyne assured me tat everything will be fine,, but she is always soft on me ever since I lost my baby,,
Can I plzzzz gen an explanation about nasal bone hypoplastic,, what's genetic blood test,, how is it measured,,
Too many questions,, I know,, but I am tensed,, I can't be in the right mind if I lose this baby,,

Hypoplasia or hypoplastic basically means 'tissue that is not fully developed yet'. As you may realize it wouldn't be in a l3 week old fetus. If she said nothing to worry about, and you are worrying because you didn't understand what she meant by a lot of medical jargon, and you definitely have to ask questions, ask them to explain, or you will worry needlessly because of it.

When I conceived at 39, basic procedure was amniocentsis, this is what they want to do to test for birth defects, drawing off the amniotic fluid is the only way to do this. I was okay, my son is now 27. But because of my age was a low birth rate baby. You would never know that now !

I hope I have answered some of your questions, to lighen your mind, Silver Lining.

Kindest regards

Ms tickle

I think that it's difficult to answer this sort of question on a post like this.

You really need to speak to you doctor again. Write down all your questions and go back to her and go through the list. Tell her you're worried and that you need to ask all the questions so you can understand what is happening. If you need to, write down the answers. Ask her whether you can ring her if you have any further questions.

Are you able to take you're a partner or a family member with you?

@ Tickle,, thanks you,,
@Gemini54,, thank you,,

I spoke to my gyne, but as I said, she comforted me,, my hubby accompanies me always, n we tell our family about everything,,

I also spoke t a fren who consulted her gyne,, I was asked to wait for the blood report and then consult her bac again,, I really feel this particular radiologist who put me into this fear is just making money,, she also made my hubby's colleague's wife to take the genetic blood test,, that was even before the NT scan,, for no reason at all,

This is my 2nd pregnancy,, I was not asked to take this test during the 1st pregnancy,, OK, I agree that there mite be complications in this pregnancy,, but since the beginning, they have been finding new complications and after spending a LOT in tests,, the results are fine,, doubting on them, I sent all my reprts to my mom and fren,, they consulted other gyne in 2 diff places and both gave +ve feedbac,, ever since, I have been having doubts,, but also the fear that if indeed there are complications, I mite not be doing anything on my part to correct it,,

Hence, I am totally confused,,

Any doutbs and fears you have at the present is going to reflect on the baby you are carrying. It isn't good to do that. You have to be positive, silver, and put some of this worry behind you until you have definitive answers. So many opinions from qualified people, yes, but they can't see you, examine you, almost the same as coming here and asking. It is beyond our control to do anything positive for you.

All of these people are making you confused.

Tick

Well, stop seeing the radiologist that's making you upset then. If everyone one else says it's all OK just give him/her the flick! As Tickle says, you don't need extra stress during a pregnancy - if you feel the radiologist is just doing this to make money - then trust your intuition. You need to be happy and calm not stressed!

Also, Silver Lining, could you type normally please? It's just really hard to read your post with all the commas and abbreviations. Thank you.

I am 14 weeks pregnant as of today,,
Last week I had my NT scan which showed the fetus nasal bone to be abnormal... its said that the NT scan picks up about 75 per cent of babies with Down's syndrome,, nasal bone hypoplastic being one of them,,
I read on the net that to calculate the risk of Down's syndrome, the gestation age, NT measurement and the maternal age is considered,, will maternal age make a huge difference in the result..
My age is 25 + 5months but in the scan report given to me, it is mentioned as 22
NT measured 1.9mm
Gestational age 13weeks

Since the beginning,, I have had problems which later turns out to nothing but a phrase, "Everything is Normal",, I'd like to hear that phrase once more now,,

Can someone give me some answer.. will I have a normal baby? Will there be more complications.. will Rh -ve type have any effect in Down's syndrome..

Don ask me to talk to my doc,, m not getting any answer,,

Then it is time to find a new doctor!

Your Rh factor will have nothing to do with this. There are several kinds of trisomies, Down's being just one. For Down's the maternal age is usually over 40 years old.

Typically the NT scan measures greater than 2.5 millimeters for the doctors to consider Down's Syndrome. Since yours measures 1.9 mm, I don't see that there is a problem at this time.

Fetal Nasal Bone

Nasal BoneThe nuchal translucency test will also check whether your baby has a visible nasal bone. In the past few years it has been seen that approximately 3 in 4 babies with Down's syndrome do not have a visible nasal bone at the time of the first trimester screening test. If the nasal bone is visible at the scan then this will reduce the chance of your baby having Down's syndrome.

The view of the nasal bone should show three distinct lines:
• The first two lines, are horizontal and parallel to each other, resembling an 'equal sign'. The top line represents the skin and bottom one, represents the nasal bone.
• A third line, almost in continuity with the skin, but at a higher level, represents the tip of the nose.

Occasionally the nasal bone cannot be seen at 11 weeks as it is too early in the pregnancy.
If this is the case and this creates some concern then the scan can be repeated a week later.

However if the nasal bone cannot be seen clearly but the nuchal translucency and blood tests are predicting a low risk result it is sometimes not necessary to see the nasal bone in every case.

Found here... 12 Week Scans fetal nuchal translucency test dating anomaly First Trimester Ultrasound NT sonogram soft markers pregnancy weeks 10 11 12 13 14 (http://baby2see.co.uk/medical/nuchal_12weekscan.html)

Thank you J_9


Well, I got the genetic blood report / Biochemistry report yesterday. According to that, my baby has no risk of any syndrome, it was then compared with the NT scan report and the risk has come down from 1 in 268 to 1 in 1400+
I spoke to the radiologist (who I feel is making money). She said the risk has reduced but not completely gone. Before talking to her, I showed the report to a fren there in the same hospital who is just out of med school. She said I have nothing to worry about. But my radiologist said that if the nasal bone does not develop by 18 weeks, I have get an invasive test (which has risks and I was not explained about it).
She has an experience of 35+years and I have to respect her. But I still have a doubt on her. I had plans to go to my native which is about 400kms from where I stay now. When I mentioned it to her, she asked me to go and come bac to her for the next scan. Then she got a call and we overheard (sorry... :(... ) talk to her advocate. Turns out someone had filed a case on her for performing the invasive test without having any signs of any kind of syndrome.
So I took an appointment with another hospital for a regular scan. Its this Saturday and I hope to get the right result.

I wanted to know whether biochemistry report is more informative and dependable than the scan?

If the risk is nil in the bioche report, can that mean that my baby has no risk OR that the scan might have been wrong?

Is it OK to get another scan since I have had 4-5 scans already..

Well, stop seeing the radiologist that's making you upset then. If everyone one else says it's all OK just give him/her the flick! As Tickle says, you don't need extra stress during a pregnancy - if you feel the radiologist is just doing this to make money - then trust your intuition. You need to be happy and calm not stressed!


Well, I got the biochemistry report and we went to another radiologist to show the report. The devil has its own ways, the radiologist said that since it was the other doc who asked us to take that test, we have to consult her for the result. Back to hell. We were forced to consult her and she didn't give any particular answer which helps. She asked me to come back to her for the 18th week scan since its is then that she can do the scan and check whether the nasal bone has developed, only then did she say she would be able to tell me whether I have to get an invasive test done. Also, o overheard her talk on the phone. Turns out someone filed a case on her for performing invasive test for no reason at all.

I thanked her and took an appointment with a radiologist in ANOTHER hospital (not very good but not bad either). I have decided not to tell them anything and check whether they will find any signs of any syndrome. If they don't, only then will I show them the previous scan and biochemistry report.

The biochemsitry report is always more accurate than a scan. Remember that the risk is never nil, but highly decreased in your case. Anything can always happen, but since the biochemistry report decreases you to 1 in 1400, you should have nothing to worry about. It sounds as though the radiologist was wrong, possibly in reading the scan.

It's okay to get another scan. Scans use sound waves, not radiation (xrays), so they present no danger to the fetus.

Keep me posted as to what you find out on Saturday. I'm sure everything will work out fine for you.

i thanked her n took an appointment with a radiologist in ANOTHER hospital (not very good but not bad either). i have decided not to tell them anything and check whether they will find any signs of any syndrome. if they don't, only then will i show them the previous scan n biochemistry report.

I can see where you are coming from on this one, silver. You don't want the new radiologists judgment clouded by another's negative report. I don't know if you are doing the right thing or not. This type of work should not effect a good technician, but there are some that know their jobs better then others. And seeing as you overheard that phonecall, I would tend to be cautious too.

Amnio centesis is not necessarily an invasive test, silver, it is quite necessary and all risks are explained going into it, with the patient's decision theirs alone.

I hope you are worrying for nothing and the outcome will be satisfactory to you.

Please keep us posted on the outcome.

Kindest regards

Tick

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Please keep your question to one thread. Opening more than one only leads to confusion.

The biochemsitry report is always more accurate than a scan. Remember that the risk is never nil, but highly decreased in your case. Anything can always happen, but since the biochemistry report decreases you to 1 in 1400, you should have nothing to worry about. It sounds as though the radiologist was wrong, possibly in reading the scan.

It's okay to get another scan. Scans use sound waves, not radiation (xrays), so they present no danger to the fetus.

Keep me posted as to what you find out on Saturday. I'm sure everything will work out fine for you.

Thank you so much J_9,, u actually made me feel much much better... so many confusions,, my parents are scared that too many scans create problems... I tried explaining to them but in vain. Since they kept warning me, I was scared. Doctors never said no to scan so far, I wanted a 3rd person opinion and I got it from u.
If the biochemistry report is more accurate, I feel I am on a safer side.
I will surely update you after the scan on Saturday... :)

I can see where you are coming from on this one, silver. You dont want the new radiologists judgment clouded by another's negative report. I dont know if you are doing the right thing or not. This type of work should not effect a good technician, but there are some that know their jobs better then others. and seeing as you overheard that phonecall, I would tend to be cautious too.

Amnio centesis is not necessarily an invasive test, silver, it is quite necessary and all risks are explained going into it, with the patient's decision theirs alone.

I hope you are worrying for nothing and the outcome will be satisfactory to you.

Please keep us posted on the outcome.

kindest regards

tick

Hey tickle,, thank you for your response.
Well, I really don wan the new radiologist to just add ghee to fire. But its far better to get an honest opinion than just add to the old report. I surely won't be testing him/her since I have a doubt on my present radiologist. The new person will just help me get the right answers.
As far as invasive test is concerned, the radiologist didn't mention anything about amniocentesis. She explained to us saying that a long needle will be inserted through my abdomen and a sample will be collected from the placenta. The scan report just mention that the risks related to invasive testing have been explained to the patient (which was NEVER discussed) which I checked on the net.
Anyway, I am waiting for Saturday... I will keep you posted,,
Thanks again,, feel a lot better discussing about it than keeping it inside.

Regards,
SL

Saturday came by and went,, I didn't get another scan done. Instead, I visited my gyne and showed her the reports. She said she has seen many such cases, i.e. nasal bone hypoplastic. She asked me to wait for the anamoly (18-20th week) scan and then decide what to do, whether to get a 2nd opinion or take an invasive if necessary.
During the NT scan, the radiologist had mentioned about nasal bone hypoplastic. When asked if it is still a risk if the bone develops as required by 18 weeks, she simply shook her head.
7thAug, I had my anamoly scan. This time by my regular radiologist. By God's grace, everything turned out to be fine. The nasal bone had developed well and there was nothing to worry (touch-wood). We asked her ab the risk and she said there was nil.
Turns out, the other radiologist was indeed making money. We heard a lot of similar complaints from other patients. She scared each and everyone during NT scan and insisted they take a biochemistry test. Everyone had to pay extra consultation fees for the same,, that too twice. Once for explaining about invasive test and suggesting bioche test and again for looking at the result and calculating the risk.
Last I heard from a fren in the scan dept, too many patients were complaining against her and changing to a different radiologist.

I am glad you have your mind settled and your suspicions were correct regarding the first radiologist. You are very astute.

Kindest regards

Tick