Abstract
Background: Use of ultrasonography is the most effective method to estimate the gestational age. Placental thickness can be used as a new parameter to estimate the gestational age of the fetus and to assess the growth pattern of the placenta with advancing gestational age. Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study consisting 150 normal antenatal women who were assessed clinically at the Department of Obstetrics and Gyaenocology and referred to the Department of Radiology, College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur for ultrasonography. Antenatal women of all gestational ages from 11 weeks to 40 weeks of gestation with normal singleton pregnancies were included in the study. Placental thickness value, in mm, was calculated by averaging the three best measurements for each case. Relationship of placental thickness (in mm), measured at the level of insertion of umbilical cord with advancing gestational age in weeks was studied. Correlation of mean placental thickness with gestational age from 11 weeks to 40 weeks was calculated. Results: It was observed that the placental thickness gradually increased from approximately 11 mm at 11 weeks to 38.33 mm at 40 weeks of gestation. From 11 to 34 weeks of gestation, the placental thickness (in mm) almost matched the gestational age in weeks, thereafter from 35 to 40 weeks; the placental thickness was lower by 1 to 2 mm. Conclusion: The relationship between the placental thickness and gestational age was linear and direct. Placental thickness (in mm) measurement can be an important additional parameter for estimating gestational age along with other parameters especially from 11 to 34 weeks of gestation.
Highlights
Accurate assessment of gestational age is an important part of any obstetric examination and presently the most effective way to date pregnancy is by the use of ultrasonography
The normal antenatal women of all gestational ages from 11 weeks to 40 weeks of gestation referred to the department of Radiology, College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur for routine antenatal ultrasound were included in the study
To prove that there was a correlation between placental thickness and the gestational age, the correlation coefficient was calculated and it was found to be r = 0.914, r = 0.946 and r = 0.984 for the 2nd, 3rd and average trimesters respectively and the p value was
Summary
Accurate assessment of gestational age is an important part of any obstetric examination and presently the most effective way to date pregnancy is by the use of ultrasonography. [3] Few authors have studied the role of placental thickness as a new parameter for estimating gestational age and placental thickness nomograms in relation to gestational age have been published. Use of ultrasonography is the most effective method to estimate the gestational age. Placental thickness can be used as a new parameter to estimate the gestational age of the fetus and to assess the growth pattern of the placenta with advancing gestational age. Placental thickness (in mm) measurement can be an important additional parameter for estimating gestational age along with other parameters especially from 11 to 34 weeks of gestation
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