What Are the Limitations of Fetal Structural Scans?

Though congenital defects are not always detected during routine scans, approximately 70 - 80% of major congenital defects can be identified.

Accurate detection of abnormalities can depend on various factors, including:

• Severity and nature of the abnormality
• Optimal fetal position when scanning
• State of the woman’s lower abdomen, including thickness of skin and scarring from previous surgeries
• Quality of the ultrasound machine
• Experience level of medical personnel conducting the scan

Are fetal structural scans safe?

Yes. To date, there is no scientific evidence to show that in-utero exposure of antenatal ultrasound is associated with biological defects.

Read more about Fetal Structural Scan

• What Is a Fetal Structural Scan?
• What Is the Difference Between Fetal Structural Scans and Ultrasounds?
• When Is the Best Time to Do a Fetal Structural Scan?
• What Is the Difference Between 2D Ultrasound and 3D/4D Ultrasounds?