This course will provide a comprehensive knowledge of the sonographic appearance of the fetal brain and central nervous system (CNS) in the first trimester and the common anomalies detectable on ultrasound.
Overview
Course name: ATC3 First trimester brain and CNS
Duration of course: 8 hours (+ supplementary materials)
Length of access for each course: 12 months
Certificates: 8 CME credits and ISUOG Certificate of Completion
Access: Online learning, learn at your own pace.
Education level: Advanced
Program language: English
Suitable for: Practicing obstetricians, trainees, fellows, residents, radiographers, radiologists, sonographers, fetal medicine specialists, GPs and healthcare professionals performing ultrasound scans.
Why do this course?
Knowing how to scan the fetal brain and spine in the first trimester is crucial for the early detection of structural anomalies such as neural tube defects and anencephaly. Early identification allows for timely medical intervention, guiding further diagnostic testing, and enabling informed decision-making for parents and healthcare providers. It also aids in planning and managing the pregnancy, improving outcomes through early medical management and preparation for necessary interventions. Additionally, early detection and reassurance can reduce parental anxiety and contribute to the advancement of prenatal care and research, enhancing the effectiveness of screening programs and overall fetal health outcomes.
Course description
The course will expound on the normal sonographic morphology of the fetal central nervous system (CNS) in the first trimester and how it differs from that in the second trimester. It will enable the learner to understand how to tailor the ultrasound machine settings in order to obtain optimal images of the fetal CNS in the first trimester. The sonographic appearance of common CNS anomalies encountered in the first trimester will also be illustrated.
Contributors to this course
Course contributors: Simon Meagher, Daniel Rolnik, Divya Singh, Lea Tuzovic, Angela Ranzini, Willem Gheysen
Course materials: Simon Meagher, Alfred Abuhamad, Dario Paladini, R Chaoui, BS Rama Murthy, Nicola Volpe, Fred Ushakov, Caterina Bilardo, Harsha Shah, Bernadette de Bakker, Ritsuko Pooh, Elisenda Eixarch, Roee Birnbaum, Daniela Prayer, Heron Werner Jr, Ana Paula Pinho Matos, Pedro Castro, Gerson Ribeiro. ISUOG Practice Guidelines (updated): sonographic examination of the fetal central nervous system. Part 2: performance of targeted neurosonography.
Learning objectives
- Understand the sonographic morphology of the normal fetal CNS between 8-14 weeks of gestation.
- Identify common CNS anomalies detectable on ultrasonography in the first trimester.
Key questions
- What is the sonographic appearance of the normal fetal central nervous system (CNS) between 8-14 weeks?
- How to adjust ultrasound machine settings in order to obtain optimal images of the fetal CNS in the first trimester?
- Which anomalies of the fetal brain are detectable on ultrasonography between 8-14 weeks?
- What is the embryological basis of fetal neural tube defects?
- What are the sonographic features of open spina bifida in the first trimester?
Prices
Prices for ISUOG members
| ISUOG member | £75 |
| ISUOG member - with trainee/sonographer discount  | £40 |
| ISUOG member in middle-income setting | £40 |
| ISUOG member in lower-resource setting | £10 |
Prices for ISUOG non-members*
| Non-member | £85 |
| Non-member - with trainee/sonographer discount  | £50 |
| Non-member in middle-income setting | £50 |
| Non-member in lower-resource setting | £15 |
* Prices for non-members does NOT include ISUOG membership. Join as an ISUOG member first for discounted prices to our online training courses (allow 24 hours for systems to update).
Trainees/residents and sonographers/radiographers
Proof of status: All trainees, residents, sonographers and radiographers will need to submit proof of their trainee, resident, sonographer or radiographer status by way of a letter from their Department or Institution. The letter must be in English and dated within the last 3 months and submitted by email to [email protected] along with the name of the course you wish to purchase.
Sonographer definition: A sonographer is a non-physician medical imaging professional who performs diagnostic medical sonography, or diagnostic ultrasound.
Trainee/resident definition: A trainee is a medical professional who is not yet fully qualified or practicing without supervision within their chosen specialty and in accordance with the relevant national regulatory authorities; a resident is in residency training which leads to specially or subspecialty) certification.
Low resource country discount
ISUOG's mission is to disseminate the highest quality education to the broadest audience. To support this aim, we have ensured that attendees from low resource countries have the lowest purchase costs. ISUOG's low resource country list can be viewed here https://www.research4life.org/access/eligibility/.
No other discounts can be used in conjunction with this rate. These rates will appear automatically in the ISUOG Academy based on your membership details, or registered details. Please make sure these details are up to date.
Middle income country discount
ISUOG's mission is to disseminate the highest quality education to the broadest audience. To support this aim, we have ensured that attendees from middle income countries have access to reduced purchase costs. ISUOG has identified the following countries whose economies fall within the middle income category as defined by the World Bank: American Samoa, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic , India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan.
No other discounts can be used in conjunction with this rate. These rates will appear automatically in the ISUOG Academy based on your membership details, or registered details. Please make sure these details are up to date.
Further information
Accreditation and CME Credits
CME credits
The European Accreditation Council (EACCME) accredits this online course for Continuing Medical Education (CME). European CME credits (ECMEC®) will be awarded on successful completion of this course. Through an agreement between the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA), physicians may convert EACCME credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Information on the process to convert EACCME credit to AMA credit can be found at www.ama-assn.org/go/internationalcme.
CME Subcommittee
The CME Subcommittee oversees the CME requirements for our CME accredited courses.
Conflict of Interest
No commercial support has been accepted related to the development or publication of this course. This course underwent peer review in line with the standards of editorial integrity and publication ethics maintained by the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology (ISUOG). Conflicts of interest have been identified and resolved in accordance with EACCME guidelines.
You can find out how we adhere to the essential criteria for EACCME accreditation requirements here.
Technical Requirements
You can study on your phone, tablet or laptop. To participate and access this activity you will need a good internet connection and an up to date browser:
- MS Internet Explorer 11 (Not including compatibility modes)
- MS Edge
- Mozilla Firefox version 60 Extended Support Release (ESR)
- Google Chrome 73
- Safari 10 auf OS X
- Mobile Browser Android >4 and iOS > 9
- Current versions of Adobe Reader plugin
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You can find our Refund Policy here.
Obstetrics – first trimester scan course list
Other courses in this series:
• ATC3: First trimester protocols
• ATC3: First trimester - heart
• ATC3: First trimester - face and neck
• ATC3: First trimester - gastrointestinal and urinary
• ATC3: First trimester - skeletal
• ATC3: First trimester - cervix, placenta and adnexa
Other courses related to this topic:
Obstetrics – mid trimester fetal anomalies scan
• ATC4: Fetal anomalies - brain and CNS part 1
• ATC4: Fetal anomalies - brain and CNS part 2