First-Trimester Pregnancy Assessment: The Role of Sonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Steven Marks*

^*President, MedCom Consultants, Inc, Potomac, Maryland

Address correspondence to: Steven Marks, MedCom Consultants Inc, 1311 Fallsmead Way, Potomac, Maryland 20854. Email: steven.marks52@gmail.com.

Disclosure statement: Steven Marks reports having no financial or advisory relationship with any corporate, medical, or political organization doing work related to this paper or other business activity at MedCom Consultants, Inc.

  ABSTRACT

Although serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin testing is the most accurate means of confirming a pregnancy, it is unable to provide important anatomical and structural details about early gestation. To this end, sonography has become the imaging modality of choice to help determine fetal location and morphology and identify major anomalies. The technology is widely available, cost-effective, and capable of providing real-time examination of the fetus. While sonography yields scans with greater spatial resolution than many other imaging modes, utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in early pregnancy can also assist with visualizing detailed anatomical features of the fetus. Current indications for the use of sonography and MRI during the first trimester have been promulgated by a variety of professional societies and underscore the recognition that evaluating fetal anatomy during early development is of great importance. Timelines of findings and biometric measurements for dating have been established, along with sonographic features characteristic of normal and abnormal intrauterine pregnancies. This information can greatly aid in patient decision-making, especially during the first trimester, when the option of terminating pregnancies due to major anomalies is most readily exercised.