Figure 3. Differential capacity for visualization of fetal structures and markers of aneuploidy in normal weight (BMI <25 kg/m2) and obese women (BMI >35 kg/m2).

As demonstrated in multiple studies (15–19, 54) and visualized herein, maternal obesity decreases the practitioner’s ability to confidently recognize such markers, or accurately assess their dimensions. For example, from the representative images in obese women, please note the poor delineation of the boarders of the lateral ventricles and renal pelvis (which may lead to inaccurate assessment), alongside the decreased echogenicity of the intracardiac echogenic focus (which may lead to missed diagnosis).