Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare fetal biometry of singleton fetuses in pregnant women with normal nutritional and health status in the Ampara district, with a commonly used reference chart. A cross sectional study was carried out in the Ampara District. Women with normal nutritional and health status and minimal environmental constraints on fetal growth (n=714) were enrolled during the first trimester and gestational age was confirmed by fetal crown-rump length measurement between 11 weeks + 0 days and 13 weeks + 6 days. For this study, each mother was considered only once for measurement of fetal biometry, at gestations between 11 and 41 weeks. Fetal bi-parietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) were measured using standard techniques, and separate regression models were fitted to estimate the means and standard deviations and derive gestation specific centiles for each parameter, assuming that the measurements have a normal distribution at each gestational age. The fetal biometry results obtained from the current study were compared with a commonly used reference chart. The fitted 10th, 50th and 90th centiles at 40 weeks of gestation were, 87.9 mm, 93.2 mm and 98.5 mm for BPD, 313.8 mm, 328.9 mm and 344.0 mm for HC; 298.2 mm, 322.5 mm and 346.9 mm for AC and 69.7 mm, 75.0 mm and 80.2 mm for FL. When compared with the reference chart, significant differences of fetal biometry were seen in the third trimester but not in the second trimester. Ultrasound fetal biometry of singleton fetuses in pregnant women with normal nutritional and health status in the Ampara District were significantly different in the third trimester, from a routinely used reference chart.
Highlights
Fetal biometry is routinely measured during pregnancy to assess the gestational age and fetal growth
When compared with the reference chart, significant differences of fetal biometry were seen in the third trimester but not in the second trimester
Ultrasound fetal biometry of singleton fetuses in pregnant women with normal nutritional and health status in the Ampara District were significantly different in the third trimester, from a routinely used reference chart
Summary
Fetal biometry is routinely measured during pregnancy to assess the gestational age and fetal growth. Can be defined as BPD and HC > 3 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for gestational age using Brazilian based reference ranges [4]. Small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) have been used to define abnormal fetal growth. Diagnosis of a SGA fetus relies on ultrasound measurement of fetal abdominal circumference or estimation of fetal weight [5]. SGA and LGA are commonly defined as a fetal abdominal circumference (AC) less than the 10th percentile and AC more than the 90th percentile respectively of a particular reference at a given gestational age [5]. Many ultrasound-estimated fetal weight (EFW) formulae have been designed and these are based on different fetal biometric parameters (BPD, HC, AC and FL) [1, 7]. Fetal weight can be indirectly estimated both clinically and radiologically [8]
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