Medical Policy

This document addresses the use of three-dimensional (3-D), four-dimensional (4-D) and five-dimensional (5-D) fetal ultrasound in maternity care and does not apply to ultrasound performed for non-pregnancy related conditions. Fetal ultrasound is a test performed during pregnancy, either to assess the gestational age or to evaluate fetal size, position, heartbeat, congenital malformations, suspected multiple fetuses or placental abnormalities. Two-dimensional (2-D) ultrasound is most commonly used. The 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds create computer-generated images viewed on a video monitor that provide more detail and almost life-like images of the fetus. 5-D ultrasounds automate the process of reconstructing 3-D images to create 2-D images.

Note: Please see the following related document for additional information:

• CG-MED-42 Maternity Ultrasound in the Outpatient Setting

Investigational and Not Medically Necessary:

The use of 3-D, 4-D or 5-D fetal ultrasound is considered investigational and not medically necessary in all cases.

Although 3-D fetal ultrasound can produce more “realistic” and recognizable images than conventional 2-D ultrasound, the clinical significance of this remains unclear. The perceived superiority of 3-D ultrasound for a number of fetal abnormalities has not been definitively established, and 2-D imaging remains the principal diagnostic modality (Meyer-Wittkopf, 2003; Schellpefeffer, 2013; Voss, 2015).

Michailidis and colleagues (2002) noted that real-time 2-D ultrasound is the best way to examine fetal anatomy in the first trimester. A comparison of the diagnostic capabilities of 2-D and 3-D sonography for the study of conjoined twins revealed that 2-D sonography provided more definitive and specific information about shared organs and 2-D sonography is the primary modality for diagnosing and evaluating conjoined twins.

Pretorius (2001) reports that although 3-D ultrasound may be useful in evaluating abdominal abnormalities such as bowel obstruction, gastroschisis, omphalocele, and wall defects secondary to bands, the advantages compared with 2-D ultrasound have not been identified. While 3-D ultrasound may be superior to 2-D ultrasound in demonstrating cleft lip or palate and for accurate identification of the level of spine involvement by a neural tube defect, the significance of this in terms of improved clinical outcomes has not been demonstrated. Dyson and colleagues (2000) performed 3-D ultrasound imaging on 63 individuals in whom a 2-D study suggested an anomaly and 3-D imaging was thought likely to provide useful information. Obstetrical management was said to “change” in 3 individuals (5%) based on the additional information provided by the 3-D study. Two of these “changes” referred to the individual’s decision regarding termination of the pregnancy because of better clarification of a cleft lip and palate and in the third, where the level of a neural tube defect was better identified, there is no information as to management decisions taken.

Several authors (Timor-Tritsch, 2000; Bubb, 2004) have noted that it is difficult to evaluate the net effect of 3-D ultrasound on obstetric practice and on outcome. They also note that no comparative studies are available to support the superiority of 3-D ultrasound versus 2-D for evaluation of the central nervous system. Although the uterine cervix in pregnancy has become a focus of 3-D ultrasound, insufficient data is available to fully assess the additional clinical advantage of 3-D ultrasound in this context.

While fetal ultrasound may be viewed as a benign imaging format, Whitworth and colleagues (2010) point out that there is still debate concerning the long-term outcomes associated with fetal exposure to ultrasound, particularly when associated with multiple exposures or the use of color Doppler in the first trimester.

Schellpfeffer (2013) states the following about 3-D/4-D fetal ultrasound and souvenir or keepsake fetal imaging:

Unfortunately, 3-D/4-D technology has also spurned a huge industry of non-medical imaging of fetuses, so-called “souvenir imaging of the fetus” or “keepsake fetal imaging.” This type of imaging is not condoned by any of the national or international ultrasound organizations for a number of reasons, but continues to flourish throughout the world.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) guideline on ultrasonography in pregnancy (December 2016) include the following:

The technical advantages of three-dimensional ultrasonography include its ability to acquire and manipulate a large number of planes and to display ultrasound planes traditionally inaccessible by two-dimensional ultrasonography. Despite these technical advantages, proof of a clinical advantage of three-dimensional ultrasonography in prenatal diagnosis in general is still lacking. Potential areas of promise include fetal facial anomalies, neural tube defects, fetal tumors, and skeletal malformations for which three-dimensional ultrasonography may be helpful in diagnosis as an adjunct to, but not a replacement for two-dimensional ultrasonography.

In 2012, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted the following regarding fetal ultrasound:

Because of the particular concern for fetal exposures, national and international organizations have advocated prudent use of ultrasound imaging. Furthermore, the use of diagnostic ultrasound for non-medical purposes such as fetal keepsake videos has been discouraged.

The Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) (2012) guideline on prenatal care states that 3-D/4-D ultrasound is considered investigational and is not routinely recommended at this time.

5-D ultrasound has been proposed as a means to automate the process of navigating the data obtained in 3-D ultrasounds to reduce dependency on ultrasound operator skill and experience and to increase reproducibility. Several studies have evaluated the accuracy of 5-D ultrasound in reconstructing conventional 2-D images from 3-D ultrasound volume data (Hur, 2015; Laban, 2018; Rizzo, 2016). There is early data that appears to indicate that 5-D ultrasound data might be comparable to data obtained from 2-D ultrasounds. However, there is a lack of data to support that any additional benefit or improved outcomes are achieved when using 5-D ultrasounds over conventional 2-D ultrasounds.

Avena-Zampieri and associates (2022) reviewed the imaging modalities available to assess fetal lungs. The authors summarized the available evidence noting:

Although 3D sonography has been assessed in research settings to evaluate lung volumetry, it is not used routinely in clinical practice because it is too time-consuming and has not been shown to be an accurate predictive tool.

In summary, although 3-D, 4-D and 5-D ultrasound may provide improved imaging for certain areas of fetal anatomy and abnormalities, it has not been demonstrated in clinical studies to result in improved health outcomes when compared to conventional 2-D ultrasound imaging (AboEllail, 2018; Goetzinger, 2018; Pinter, 2018; Tsai, 2018). There are challenges associated with this technology including a high dependence on operator experience, low reproducibility and exposure to a higher intensity power than used in 2D ultrasounds (Wataganara, 2021). There remains some question about the value of 3-D, 4-D or 5-D imaging outside of the controlled clinical setting (Wataganara, 2021). Merz (2012) notes “there are still no studies comparing 2D and 3D US in centers where practitioners are not 3D experts.”

3-D or volume ultrasonography acquires a volume (rather than slice) of ultrasonographic data allowing one to see width, height and depth of images. The images can be captured and saved for later review. This stored data can be reformatted and analyzed in numerous ways. For example, surface rendering involves projecting the surface of a structure onto the screen, which allows curved structures, such as the fetal face, to be viewed in a single image that appears photographic in nature.

Suggested advantages of 3-D ultrasound compared to 2-D ultrasound in obstetrics include the following:

• Three-dimensional ultrasound appears to be less operator-dependent and provides a superior display of structures with complex anatomy compared to conventional ultrasonography.
• Orientations and planes not available with 2-D ultrasound, because of anatomic constraints or fetal position are available with 3-D ultrasound.
• Volume data may be reviewed millimeter by millimeter after acquisition, simulating real-time scanning.
• Archived volume data with suspected fetal anomalies may be reviewed with other physicians after completion of the ultrasound and data may be transmitted via the internet to other locations.
• 3-D ultrasound has improved accuracy of volume measurements to measure regular and irregular objects.
• Volume-rendered images are easily recognizable by both parents and physicians, which may facilitate decisions by families regarding continuing or terminating the pregnancy and are also said to enable parents to bond more effectively with the fetus. It may also assist them with making lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking or excessive alcohol intake.

Limitations of 3-D ultrasound of the fetus are as follows:

• Suboptimal volume-rendered images are obtained if there are inadequate amniotic fluids surrounding the structure of interest. This is a major limitation with oligohydramnios and as the fetus progresses towards term. The adjacent structures cannot be excluded from the rendered volume in these cases and this interferes with surface rendering.
• Unacceptable surface rendering occurs with unfavorable fetal position and with adjacent or superimposed structures (e.g., limbs).
• Image processing of the volume data may take additional time on the part of the examiner.
• Real-time capacity is not generally available with three-dimensional ultrasound.

4-D ultrasonography refers to real-time visualization of 3-D images. The time vector (the fourth dimension) makes it possible to perceive a rapid update of the successive individual images displayed on the monitor at very short intervals which creates the impression of a real time. Fetal movements can be seen, providing a “live action” view. Proposed uses include study of fetal movement, fetal heart, and fetal behavioral states. 4-D ultrasonography is also known as dynamic 3-D sonography.

Recently, a number of studies have evaluated the diagnostic value of 3-D imaging in detecting fetal defects for a number of conditions including facial anomalies and defects of the spine, brain, heart and skeleton (Merz, 2012).

5-D ultrasonography builds upon 3-D sonography, automating the process of acquiring diagnostic images based upon volume data through the use of a software package. The ultrasound system WS80A (Samsung Medison Co, Ltd, Seoul, Korea) includes several software packages focusing on specific areas including fetal brain and heart structure, nuchal translucency and fetal biometry. While 5-D ultrasound has been proposed as a way to more accurately reconstruct fetal structure and predict fetal weight, the current studies do not show improved accuracy when compared to 2-D imaging (Hur, 2015; Laban, 2018).

Ultrasound: A screening or diagnostic technique in which very high frequency sound waves are passed into the body, and the reflected echoes are detected and analyzed to build a picture of the internal organs or of a fetus in the uterus

The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this document are included below for informational purposes. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy. Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

When services are Investigational and Not Medically Necessary:
For the following procedure and diagnosis codes, or when the code describes a procedure indicated in the Position Statement section as investigational and not medically necessary.

Peer Reviewed Publications:

1. AboEllail MAM, Kanenishi K, Mori N, et al. 4D ultrasound study of fetal facial expressions in the third trimester of pregnancy. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018; 31(14):1856-1864.
2. Avena-Zampieri CL, Hutter J, Rutherford M, et al. Assessment of the fetal lungs in utero. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2022; 4(5):100693.
3. Benacerraf BR, Shipp TD, Bromley B. Three-dimensional US of the fetus: volume imaging. Radiology. 2006; 238(3):988-996.
4. Bubb JA, Mathews AL. What’s new in prenatal screening and diagnosis? Prim Care. 2004; 31(3):561-582.
5. Caughey AB, Lyell DJ, Washington AE, et al. Ultrasound screening of fetuses at increased risk for Down syndrome: how many missed diagnoses? Prenat Diagn. 2006; 26(1):22-27.
6. Dyson RL, Pretorius DH, Budorick NE, et al. Three-dimensional ultrasound in the evaluation of fetal anomalies. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2000; 16(4):321-328.
7. Goetzinger KR, Cahill AG, Odibo L, et al. Three-dimensional power doppler evaluation of cerebral vascular blood flow: A novel tool in the assessment of fetal growth restriction. J Ultrasound Med. 2018; 37(1):139-147.
8. Harris RA, Washington AE, Nease RF Jr, Kuppermann M. Cost utility of prenatal diagnosis and the risk-based threshold. Lancet. 2004; 363(9405):276-282.
9. Hur H, Kim YH, Cho HYet al. Feasibility of three-dimensional reconstruction and automated measurement of fetal long bones using 5D Long Bone. Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2015; 58(4):268-276.
10. Kurjak A, Azumendi G, Andonotopo W, Salihagic-Kadic A. Three- and four-dimensional ultrasonography for the structural and functional evaluation of the fetal face. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007; 19691):16-28.
11. Laban M, Alanwar AA, Etman MK, et al. Five-dimensional long bones biometry for estimation of femur length and fetal weight at term compared to two-dimensional ultrasound: a pilot study. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018; 31(15):2036-2042.
12. Merz E, Abramowicz JS. 3D/4D ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis: is it time for routine use? Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2012; 55(1):336-351.
13. Meyer-Wittkopf M, Hofbeck M. Two- and three- dimensional echocardiographic analysis of congenital heart disease in the fetus. Herz. 2003; 28(3):240-249.
14. Michailidis GD, Papageorgiou P, Economides DL. Assessment of fetal anatomy in the first trimester using two- and three-dimensional ultrasound. Br J Radiol. 2002; 75(891):215-219.
15. Nicolaides KH, Spencer K, Avgidou K, et al. Multicenter study of first-trimester screening for trisomy 21 in 75,821 pregnancies: results and estimation of the potential impact of individual risk-orientated two-stage first-trimester screening. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2005; 25(3):221-226.
16. Nyberg DA, Hyett J, Johnson JA, Souter V. First-trimester screening. Ultrasound Clin. 2006; 1(2):231-255.
17. Pretorius DH, Borok NN, Coffler MS, Nelson TR. Three-dimensional ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology. Radiol Clin North Am. 2001; 39(3):499-521.
18. Rizzo G, Capponi A, Persico N, et al. 5D CNS+ software for automatically imaging axial, sagittal, and coronal planes of normal and abnormal second-trimester fetal brains. J Ultrasound Med. 2016; 35(10):2263-2272.
19. Schellpfeffer MA. Ultrasound imaging in research and clinical medicine. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2013; 99(2):83-92.
20. Shipp T, Bromley B, Benecerraf B. Is 3-dimensional volume sonography an effective alternative method to the standard 2-dimensional technique of measuring the nuchal translucency? J Clin Ultrasound. 2006; 34(3):118-122.
21. Souka AP, Pilalis A, Kavalakis I, et al. Screening for major structural abnormalities at the 11- to 14-week ultrasound scan. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006; 194(2):393-396.
22. Tarsa M, Pretorius DH, D’Agostini D. 3-dimensional obstetric ultrasound: tips of the trade. Ultrasound Clin. 2006; 1(2):321-334.
23. Timor-Tritsch IE, Platt LD. Three-dimensional ultrasound experience in obstetrics. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2002; 14(6):569-575.
24.  Tsai PY, Chang CH. Assessment of the blood flow in kidneys of growth-restricted fetuses using quantitative three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 57(5):665-667.
25. Vos FI, Bakker M, de Jong-Pleij EA, et al. Is 3D technique superior to 2D in Down syndrome screening? Evaluation of six second and third trimester fetal profile markers. Prenat Diagn. 2015; 35(3):207-213.
26. Wataganara T, Rekhawasin T, Sompagdee N, et al. A 10-year retrospective review of prenatal applications, current challenges and future prospects of three-dimensional sonoangiography. Diagnostics (Basel). 2021; 11(8):1511.
27. Yagel S, Cohen SM, Messing B. 3D and 4D ultrasound in fetal cardiac scanning: a new look at the fetal heart. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2007; 29(1):81-95.

Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

1. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Committee Opinion No. 723: Guidelines for Diagnostic Imaging During Pregnancy and Lactation. Obstet Gynecol. 2017; 130(4):e210-e216. Reaffirmed 2021.
2. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). Official Statements. Prudent Use and Safety of Diagnostic Ultrasound in Pregnancy. Approved on May 19, 2020. Available at: https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/79?__sw_csrfToken=67ff2ef4. Accessed on January 8, 2024.
3. Committee on Practice Bulletins—Obstetrics and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Practice Bulletin No. 175: Ultrasound in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 128(6): e241-e256.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Radiation Emitting Products. Ultrasound Imaging. Updated September 28, 2020. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/MedicalImaging/ucm115357.htm. Accessed on January 8, 2024.
5. Whitworth M, Bricker L, Neilson JP, Dowswell T. Ultrasound for fetal assessment in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(4):CD007058.

3-D Ultrasound
4-D Ultrasound
5-D Ultrasound
Dynamic Three-Dimensional Fetal Sonography
Four-Dimensional Ultrasound in Obstetrics
HD Live or HDlive Ultrasound
Live 3-D ultrasound
Real time sonography
Three-Dimensional Ultrasound in Obstetrics

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