ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2017 July-August;176(7-8):377-80

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.17.03359-9

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The accuracy of ultrasound evaluation of fetal external genitalia performed by specialists and trainees

Junichi HASEGAWA ^{1, 2} ✉, Masamitsu NAKAMURA ², Hiroko TAKITA ², Akihiko SEKIZAWA ²

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan; ² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of ultrasound specialists and trainees in fetal gender determination.
METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at a single university hospital. We enrolled pregnant women who underwent ultrasound examinations and requested the determination of fetal gender in the first trimester (between 11 and 13+6 weeks of gestation) and the second trimester (between 18 and 20+6 weeks of gestation) from 2012 to 2013, whose babies were delivered at our hospital. After the babies were delivered, the accuracy of the fetal gender determinations performed by ultrasound specialists and trainees in the first and second trimester was analyzed.
RESULTS: In total, 1323 scans were performed in which gender was determined. In the first trimester scans, female and male gender was correctly determined in 72.9% and 78.1%, respectively, of the scans by trainees; and 74.0% and 79.5% of the scans by the board-certified specialists. In the second trimester scans, female and male gender was correctly determined in 99.6% and 98.7% of the scans by trainees, while the accuracy of the board-certified specialists was 100%.
CONCLUSIONS: The usefulness of gender determination during the first trimester in daily clinical settings is limited. However, inaccuracy was observed in the second trimester scans attempted by the trainees, while gender was correctly determined in all cases by the specialists.

KEY WORDS: Sex - Genitalia - Fetal development - Second pregnancy trimester - Neonatal screening - Prenatal care - Ultrasonography