Which statement best describes a plausible reason for an atypical Panorama result?

Which statement best describes a plausible reason for an atypical Panorama result?

• A. The result always identifies a fetal karyotype with certainty
• B. The result is always invalid and should be discarded
• C. The result can only reflect fetal placental tissue
• D. The result may reflect non-fetal factors such as placental or maternal origin

Answer: (D)

Panorama analyzes cell-free DNA in maternal blood, which comes from both placental tissue and the mother's own DNA. Because the fetal DNA signal can be affected by how much fetal DNA is present and by non-fetal DNA sources, an atypical result can arise from factors outside the fetus itself. This means placental mosaicism or maternal DNA contributions can skew the result, making it a plausible non-fetal explanation for an unusual finding. Such a result does not by itself confirm a fetal condition and typically leads to follow-up diagnostic testing (like amniocentesis or CVS) or further evaluation of maternal factors to determine the true fetal status.

Panorama analyzes cell-free DNA in maternal blood, which comes from both placental tissue and the mother's own DNA. Because the fetal DNA signal can be affected by how much fetal DNA is present and by non-fetal DNA sources, an atypical result can arise from factors outside the fetus itself. This means placental mosaicism or maternal DNA contributions can skew the result, making it a plausible non-fetal explanation for an unusual finding. Such a result does not by itself confirm a fetal condition and typically leads to follow-up diagnostic testing (like amniocentesis or CVS) or further evaluation of maternal factors to determine the true fetal status.