Ultrasonographic measurement of thoracic diameters of the early gestating fetus.
Eighty-two ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 60 of our pregnant patients with regular menstrual cycles and no complications. The pregnancies ranged from 7 to 13 weeks of gestation. Thoracic anteroposterior diameter (ETAPD), transverse diameter (ETTD), cross-sectional area (ETA) and crown-rump length (CRL) were measured on each ultrasonogram. A high correlation between CRL and gestational age was firstly confirmed in this study. ETAPD, ETTD and ETA correlated well with the gestational age and CRL, respectively. Correlations between ETAPD/CRL and ETTD/CRL ratios with the gestational age were negative. A positive correlation of ETA/CRL ratio with the gestational age was evident. Ultrasonographic measurement of the thoracic diameters of the fetus in utero should be a useful parameter to evaluate the gestational age and for early detection of growth retardation in utero.
Hata
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo Japan.
Hata
K
K
Yamane
Y
Y
Osamu
T
T
Kitao
M
M
D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D013909:Thorax / Q000196:embryology; D014463:Ultrasonography