Tag

Prenatal Testing

All articles tagged with #prenatal testing

health1 year ago•1 min saved

Prenatal Test Detects Cancer in Half of Abnormal Cases

A study by the National Institute of Health, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that nearly 50% of women with abnormal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) prenatal test results had undiagnosed cancers. The study involved 107 women, revealing 52 cases of hidden cancers, including blood and solid tumors. Many of these women were asymptomatic or had symptoms misattributed to pregnancy. The research highlights the potential of cfDNA tests in early cancer detection, though some abnormal results were due to non-cancerous conditions or remained unexplained.

via Ars Technica|

#cancer-detection #cfdna #health

health1 year ago•2 min saved

Prenatal Blood Tests May Reveal Undetected Maternal Cancers

A study by the NIH has found that abnormal prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) test results, typically used to screen for fetal chromosomal disorders, can also indicate undetected cancers in pregnant individuals. The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed that 48.6% of participants with abnormal cfDNA results had cancers such as colorectal, breast, lung, and pancreatic. Whole body MRI was identified as the most effective method for cancer detection in these cases. The study highlights the potential of cfDNA testing in identifying hidden maternal cancers and calls for further research to validate these findings.

via National Institutes of Health|

#cancer-detection #cfdna #health

health1 year ago•5 min saved

"US Fails to Screen for Common Pregnancy Parasite"

The US does not include Toxoplasma gondii testing in prenatal screenings, despite the parasite's potential to cause severe birth defects if contracted during pregnancy. Other countries have successfully implemented such testing, reducing the incidence and severity of congenital toxoplasmosis. Experts argue that routine testing in the US could prevent many cases of birth abnormalities and save significant healthcare costs. Pregnant individuals are advised to avoid potential sources of infection, such as cat litter and undercooked meat.

via ScienceAlert|

#health #parasite #pregnancy