To study whether there are significant differences in observing fetal palate by using series of axial views of the jaw among different sonographers, and to evaluate the feasibility of prenatal ultrasonography of the palate with the series of views.

From May to September 2018, 120 pregnant women (excluding multiple births) at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University were randomly selected by three sonographers of different seniority, with 40 cases assigned to each sonographer. The pregnant women had been examined by mid-trimester ultrasonography, and the pregnancy outcomes by follow-up were normal. A series of axial views of the jaw were reviewed, including axial view of the upper alveolar (UA), axial view of the inferior alveolar (IA), axial view of the soft palate (SP), axial view of the horizontal plate (HP), and axial view of the maxilla palatine process (MPP). The HP was graded. The χ² test was used to compare the obtained rate of each section and the qualified rate of HP section between different sonographers.

UA and IA views were obtained in all cases. SP view was obtained in 86.7% (104/120) of cases, and sonographers A, B, and C obtained 87.5% (35/40), 85.0% (34/40), and 87.5% (35/40), respectively. HP view was obtained in 92.5% (111/120) of cases, and sonographers A, B, and C obtained 97.5% (39/40), 87.5% (35/40), and 92.5% (37/40), respectively. MPP view was obtained in 91.7% (110/120) of cases, and sonographers A, B, and C obtained 92.5% (37/40), 95.0% (38/40), and 87.5% (35/40), respectively. The obtaining rates of all these views had no significant difference among different sonographers (P>0.05). The qualification rate of HP was 94.6% (105/111). The qualification rates of the three sonographers were 97.4% (38/39), 91.4% (32/35), and 94.6% (35/37), respectively. The rates had no significant difference among different sonographers (P>0.05). In the eligible HP view, the horizontal angle of 88.6% (93/105) cases was less than 30°, and the horizontal angle of 6 unqualified cases was more than 30°. The incidence angle of insonation was more than 30° in 77.8% (7/9) of the patients in whom HP view could not be obtained.

Series of axial views of the jaw could be used to observe the palate during prenatal ultrasound screening. There is no significant difference between different sonographers in the acquisition and quality of HP view.