Ultrasound scanning of fetal anomaly

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• provide a woman with appropriate pre-test counselling before a midtrimester anomaly scan
• describe the limitations of a midtrimester anomaly scan
• describe the ultrasound characteristics of normal fetal anatomy and a range of fetal abnormalities
• outline the further management of a range of fetal abnormalities that can be diagnosed on ultrasound
• discuss the prognosis for a range of fetal abnormalities
• understand the law relating to termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality.

Dr David Beaumont MRCOG (2022)

David Beaumont is a Consultant Obstetrician at the Lancashire Women & Newborn Centre, Burnley, with a Special interest in Fetal Medicine.

Dr Martin Maher MRCOG (2020,2022)

Martin Maher is a consultant in fetal medicine and high risk obstetrics at the Lancashire Women & Newborn Centre, Burnley. He undertakes four fetal medicine ultrasound scan lists per week. This includes scanning, invasive testing, counselling of patients and close liaison with other medical specialities. He is the lead for fetal medicine and antenatal screening in East Lancashire.

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling. Green-top Guideline 8. London: RCOG, 2021.

Fox CE, Kilby MD. Prenatal diagnosis in the modern era. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2016;18:213–9.

Salomon LJ, Alfirevic Z, Berghella V, Bilardo CM, Chalouhi GE, Da Silva Costa F, et al. on behalf of the ISUOG Clinical Standards Committee. ISUOG Practice Guidelines (updated): performance of the routine mid-trimester fetal ultrasound scan. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2022;59:840-856.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Abortion Care. NICE Guideline NG140. London: NICE; 2019.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Antenatal Care. NICE Guideline NG210. London: NICE; 2021.

GOV UK website. NHS fetal Anomaly screening programme. [Accessed March 2023].

eLfH eLearning for healthcare. About the NHS screening programmes. [Accessed March 2023].