EARLY 2ND-TRIMESTER DETERMINATION OF FETAL GENDER BY ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound identification assists in determining chorionicity in twins , in the interpretation of sex chromosome mosaicism and aneuploidy and in sex-linked conditions presenting after 14 weeks. This study addres ses the frequency and accuracy of gender identification in a series of consecutive patients Presenting for amniocentesis for genetic indicat ions. Amniocentesis was performed at 14-20 weeks in 843 fetuses over a 5-year period. Ultrasound prediction of fetal gender was documented i n 93.3% (770/843). The overall accuracy of diagnosis of fetal gender w as 99.3% (765/770). Errors in diagnosis of gender were more likely to occur in the assessment of the female fetus. Such errors in diagnosis may be minimized by combining both tangential/transverse and sagittal views of the fetal perineum.