Nuchal Translucency (NT)

What is nuchal translucency?

All babies have a small amount of fluid just under the skin at the back of the neck. On an ultrasound scan, this fluid appears as a black space and is called nuchal translucency (NT).

NT is measured during an ultrasound scan between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. In most pregnancies, the measurement is less than 3.5 mm.

What does an increased NT mean?

At your scan today, your baby was found to have an increased nuchal translucency. This finding occurs in around 1 in 150 pregnancies.

An increased NT:

• Can be a normal variation, and many babies with an increased NT are born healthy
• Can sometimes be associated with:
  • A chromosomal condition (such as Down’s syndrome)
  • A heart condition
  • Other structural concerns

What happens next?

You will be offered the opportunity to:

• Speak with a fetal medicine midwife, who will explain the finding in more detail and answer any questions you may have

You may also be offered:

• Further testing to check for chromosomal conditions, such as:
  • Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
  • Amniocentesis

These tests can provide more definite information but do carry a small risk of miscarriage, 0.5 - 1%. Deciding whether to have these tests can be difficult, and you will be fully supported in making a decision that feels right for you.

Further scans and follow-up

You will be offered:

• A detailed scan in the Fetal Medicine Department with a fetal medicine consultant
• Your routine 20-week anomaly scan
• An additional Fetal cardiac screening scan at 20 weeks

These scans help to look more closely at your baby’s development, including the heart, and to check for any other concerns.

Contact details

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact the Fetal Medicine Midwives:

📞 01223 216185

Useful information

• Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) (opens in a new tab)
• Population screening programmes: detailed information (opens in a new tab)