Intrauterine sonographic assessments of embryonal liver length.

Abstract

Our purpose was to evaluate embryonal liver length measurement using intrauterine sonography with a specially developed 20 MHz flexible catheter-based high-resolution real-time miniature (2.4 mm outer diameter) ultrasound transducer in early first-trimester pregnancy. A total of 36 women about to undergo therapeutic abortion at 7-9.9 weeks gestational age and one abnormal pregnancy with fetal hydrops at 9 weeks were studied. The normal range of embryonal liver length for each day of pregnancy was determined. A relationship between embryonal liver length and crown-rump length measurements is described. A linear relationship was found between the menstrual age and embryonal liver length (R2 = 93.3%), and a normal range of embryonal liver length for estimating the growth of the embryonal liver during early first trimester pregnancy was generated. A normogram of menstrual age as predicted by embryonal liver length was also generated. Embryonal liver length was curvilinearly correlated with crown-rump length (R2 = 92.3%). Embryonal liver length value (6.4 mm) in a case of fetal hydrops at 9 weeks was above the normal range. These results may provide an additional measurement for the estimation of gestational age in the early first trimester of pregnancy. In this limited series one embryonal liver enlargement was demonstrated and, thus, there is a potential for its use in the detection of embryonal congestive heart failure. The value and potential applications of this new embryonal parameter are discussed.