Background: Congenital anomalies represent a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Timely detection during routine prenatal care allows for better counseling, management, and improved outcomes. Ultrasound serves as the primary screening modality, yet prevalence patterns vary across regions and populations. Objective: To determine the frequency and types of congenital anomalies diagnosed on ultrasound scan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: The study was conducted from May 2024 to October 2024 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Methodology: A total of 225 pregnant women, aged 18–50 years, with singleton pregnancies between 18 and 20+6 weeks of gestation were enrolled through consecutive sampling. Women with epilepsy or unwilling to participate were excluded. After informed consent, demographic details were recorded, followed by detailed history, examination, and targeted ultrasound by a consultant gynecologist. Congenital anomalies were categorized into central nervous system, urinary, skeletal, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular groups based on established sonographic criteria. Results: Congenital anomalies were detected in 15 women (6.7%), while 210 (93.3%) had normal findings. Central nervous system anomalies were most frequent (33.3%), followed by urinary (20.0%), gastrointestinal (20.0%), skeletal (13.3%), and cardiovascular anomalies (13.3%). Maternal age showed no significant association (p=0.594), with anomalies present in 7.6% of mothers ≤30 years and 5.3% in mothers >30 years. Parity was also non-significant (p=0.381). Gestational age was significantly associated (p=0.007), with no anomalies detected ≤19 weeks, compared to 9.6% >19 weeks. Conclusion: Ultrasound screening in the second trimester is a valuable tool for identifying congenital anomalies, with the central nervous system most frequently affected.
Khan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.