The Assessment of Nasal Bone during Gestation to Screen for Down Syndrome - A Review

Aim: To assess the nasal bone of the foetus during the first trimester to screen for Down Syndrome. Objective: This review aims to evaluate fetal nasal bone in the first trimester of pregnancy and to monitor its value in the diagnosis of Down Syndrome. Background: Fetal nasal bone assessment is a procedure that is non-evasive and provides greater assurance to patients in their first trimester about the risk of Down Syndrome in foetus. Down Syndrome also known as Trisomy 21 is a chromosomal abnormality caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21 and this disorder has no cure. The presence or the absence of nasal bone in the first trimester of pregnancy states if the fetus is at risk and thus the absence of fetal nasal bone states positive for Down Syndrome. Reason: As it is a non-evasive procedure, the fetus is safe. The financial burden of parents having children suffering from chromosomal abnormalities is high and thus early diagnosis of Down Syndrome is a huge step towards reducing the costs. This review aims to study the procedure and thus evaluate the presence or absence of Down Syndrome.