NUCHAL TRANSLUCENCY MEASUREMENT - TRAINING OF POTENTIAL EXAMINERS

The aim of this study was to assess a training regimen for nuchal tran slucency measurement by transabdominal (TAS) and transvaginal sonograp hy (TVS). After initial instruction regarding the criteria for correct nuchal translucency measurement, trainees (A and B) and an experience d examiner (C) performed nuchal translucency measurements on fetuses o f 10-13 weeks' gestation, and the trainees' ability to obtain a measur ement, repeatability and levels of agreement were assessed. In additio n, a further experienced examiner (D) performed nuchal translucency me asurements to validate the training regimen. Examiner C obtained nucha l translucency measurements in 94% by TAS, 93% by TVS and 100% by a co mbination of both scan modes. The repeatability coefficient was 0.40 m m and 0.24 mm for TAS and TVS, respectively. Trainees A and B were con sidered trained after 80 and 100 scans with TAS and TVS, respectively. They were considered trained when they could consistently obtain meas urements that were of comparable repeatability and comaparable levels of agreement with those of examiner C. The trainees' difficulties with TAS were in achieving satisfactory repeatability and levels of agreem ent, but with TVS it was ability in obtaining a measurement. We propos e the training methods, standards and criteria used in this study as t he basis for training sonographers in nuchal translucency measurements .