ABSTRACT
The applicability of volume sonography in the first trimester is unique in that a single volume of the entire fetus may be obtained in one sweep. The mid-sagittal volume technique was described in 2012 in which a single volume of the fetus is acquired along the mid-sagittal plane, the same plane utilized for measuring the nuchal translucency. After acquisition of the volume and using the applicable presets on the machine, there is automatic generation of an optimized, magnified mid-sagittal image of the fetal head and thorax. Although volume sonography has great advantages in the first trimester, facilitated by the ability to obtain a single volume of the entire fetus for later off-line analysis, there remain several limitations. The proper application of volume sonography in the first trimester facilitates the complete fetal anatomic and biometric assessment from a single volume acquired in a mid-sagittal plane.
