The ‘Radiant Effect’: Recent Sonographic Image-Enhancing Technique and Its Impact on Nuchal Translucency Measurements

Preprints.org

Abstract

Background: This study assesses the effects of the ‘Radiant’ image enhancement technique on fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurements during first trimester sonographic ex-ams. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 263 ultrasound images of first trimester midsagittal sections was conducted. NT measurements were obtained using a semi-automatic tool. Statistical methods were applied to compare NT measurements with and without ‘Radi-ant’ enhancement. An in-vitro setup with predefined line distances provided additional data. Results: Incremental increases in NT measurements were observed with varying levels of ‘Radiant’ application: An average increase of 0.19 mm with ‘Radiant min’, 0.24 mm with ‘Radiant mid’ and 0.30 mm with ‘Radiant max.’ The in-vitro results supported these findings, showing consistent effects on line thickness and measurement accuracy, with the smallest mean deviation occurring at the ‘Radiant mid’ setting. Conclusions: ‘Radiant’ image enhancement leads to significant increases in NT measure-ments. To avoid systematic biases in clinical assessments, it is advisable to disable ‘Radi-ant’ during NT measurement procedures. Further studies are necessary to corroborate these findings and to consider updates to the NT reference tables based on this technology.

Authors 6

1. Arne Bergsch corresponding
   Affiliation as printed

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics ; Cologne , Germany

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics; Cologne, Germany

2. J Degenhardt corresponding
   Affiliation as printed

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics ; Cologne , Germany

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics; Cologne, Germany

3. Rüdiger Stressig
   Affiliation as printed

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics ; Cologne , Germany

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics; Cologne, Germany

4. Heiko Dudwiesus

   Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin

   Affiliation as printed

   DEGUM Arbeitskreis Ultraschallsysteme ;

   DEGUM Arbeitskreis Ultraschallsysteme;

5. Oliver Graupner Aachen Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics ; Aachen , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics; Aachen, Germany

6. Jochen Ritgen
   Affiliation as printed

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics ; Cologne , Germany

   Praenatal plus Centre for Prenatal Diagnostics and Genetics; Cologne, Germany