Fetal abdomen volume: preliminary results for fetal weight estimation

Amaç

To compare the accuracy of birth-weight predicting model derived from two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound parameters and from total fetal abdomen volume measured by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging.

Yöntem

Healthy late third-trimester 80 fetuses within 5 days of delivery were prospectively examined using 2D and 3D ultrasound. Measurements were performed using 2D ultrasound for standard fetal biometry and 3D ultrasound for fetal abdomen volume. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) was obtained using Williams formula. Fetal abdomen volume was analyzed using the VOCAL imaging analysis program.

Results 

Based on 80 pregnancies, mean maternal age was 26.07±5.63. Mean gestational age was 38.4±1.35 weeks at birth. Mean estimated fetal weight was 3223.64±513.07 grams in Williams formula and mean neonatal birth weight was 3239.89±540.97 grams. Mean fetal abdomen volume was 885.54±205.69 cm3. Correlation analysis revealed that fetal abdomen volume was significantly correlated with neonatal birth weight (p=0.0001; r=0.575).

Conclusion 

The precision of fetal weight estimation can be improved by adding fetal abdomen volume measurements to conventional 2D biometry. New models that consider fetal abdomen volume may offer new insight into the contribution of soft tissue development to weight estimation. 

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