Transverse cerebellar diameter in twin gestations.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of transverse cerebellar diameter measurements in twin pregnancies.


METHODS
A prospective, cross-sectional ultrasonographic study was done on 329 normal singleton fetuses and 47 normal twin pairs. Fetal biometric measurements including biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and transverse cerebellar diameter were compared between concordant (n = 13) and discordant (n = 11) twins.


RESULTS
(1) There was no significant difference in transverse cerebellar diameter measurements between normal singleton and twin gestations. (2) There was no significant difference in transverse cerebellar diameter measurements in each twin pair. (3) Transverse cerebellar diameter was unaffected by the chorionicity or discordancy. (4) Predicted gestational age by transverse cerebellar diameter nomogram for singletons provided satisfactory correlation for twins.


CONCLUSIONS
Transverse cerebellar diameter may be a useful predictor of gestational age and may be independent of discordant growth in twins.
Shimizu
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Gaudette
S
S
Nimrod
C
C
D001699:Biometry; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014427:Twins; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal