Maternal serum screening for birth defects began in the early 1970s with the discovery of serum alpha-fetoprotein in the second trimester. It was found to be increased in fetuses with only open neural tube defects [1]. The book explains the advent of the serum screening for open neural tube defects. Indeed, the use of multiples of median (MoMs) to report results was partly adopted because of vast interlaboratory differences [1]. However, now in today’s era of excellent USG machines and experts in the field of imaging, we have now shifted our focus from serum screening to USG detection and diagnosis of the open neural tube defect. Apart from the well-known second-trimester signs of ONTD, i.e., lemon-shaped skull and obliterated posterior fossa, we have methods or markers for the detection of ONTD in the 11–13 + 6 weeks scan. Thanks to Prof R. Choui for the introduction and correlation of the fourth ventricle in the 11–13 + 6 weeks scan as the intracranial translucency [2]. The chapter on the anatomy in the 11–13 + 6 weeks describes the sign in detail with good pictorial illustration. There are other signs as well which could not have been included, but readers can refer to the Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics for the same.
Sharad Gogate: Guidelines and Standards for Maternal Serum Screening for Down’s Syndrome, Neural Tube Defects, and Other Obstetric Problems CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, ISBN: 978-81-239-2626-1
