title: Relationship between fetal growth and echogenicity of the fetal liver.
abstract: This study investigates the relationships between the incidence and degree of echogenicity of fetal livers and some prognostic variables of pregnancy. This was done by measuring and evaluating the echogenicity of the fetal liver on sonograms and then comparing the degree of echogenicity to tabulations of the incidence of each of the prognostic variables. The echogenicity of each of the fetal livers was established by comparing them to the texture of the fetal bowels. They were then graded and divided into three categories: hypodense (diaphanous), isodense (medium density) and hyperdense (very dense). The results were then compared to the incidences of the complications of pregnancies as they occurred in the same patients. This study reveals that fetuses with hypodense livers have a higher than normal incidence of intrauterine growth retardation (p less than 0.01) and significantly lower than normal birth weight (p less than 0.01), especially when compared to those with isodense livers. Further, fetal distress plus Apgar scores of less than or equal to 7 were more common in fetuses with hyodense livers than in those with hyperdense livers (p less than 0.03). This study demonstrates (1) that measurements and analysis of echogenicity of fetal livers on sonograms are a safe, noninvasive method of evaluating fetal development and (2) that the sonograms can be useful indicators of fetal development and that they can aid physicians in managing the pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shobara Red Cross Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murao
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000592:standards*