OBJECTIVE:

To determine the clinical significance and obstetric and perinatal outcome after detection of a chorionic protrusion in the first trimester screening study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Prospective cohort study performed in patients referred for first trimester screening to a third level referral Fetal Medicine and Surgery unit (Prenatalia Medicina Fetal San Javier, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) from April 2019 to December 2021. Patients with craniocaudal length measurements between 45 and 84 mm during first-trimester prenatal screening were included. Ultrasound findings were reported, relevant clinical information and data were obtained from electronic records, and the treating obstetrician-gynecologist and patients were contacted when necessary. Descriptive statistics with measures of central tendency and dispersion were used. For comparative analysis, 2 and Mann Whitney U were used to contrast differences between groups.

RESULTS:

1359 pregnancies were evaluated and chorionic protrusion was documented in 19 of them. In 9 of 19 cases it was associated with first trimester bleeding prior to ultrasound examination. Chorionic protrusion was found to be larger than 10 mm in 16 out of 19 cases. In addition, the protrusion was associated with episodes of threatened preterm labour in 13 of 19 cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

Chorionic protrusion is a rare finding during first trimester screening that is associated with bleeding and episodes of threatened preterm labour.

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