Prediction of fetal macrosomia using sonographically measured abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the usefulness of sonographic measurement of abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness in predicting fetal macrosomia (weight > 4,000 g).


METHODS
Abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness was measured sonographically in 133 term fetuses. All studied fetuses were delivered within 72 hours after the measurements were taken.


RESULTS
One hundred thirteen fetuses were normal size, and 20 were macrosomic. The fetal abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness ranged between 3 and 18 mm in all fetuses, with a mean measurement of 8.4 +/- 2.7 mm (standard deviation). The mean tissue thickness differed significantly between normal and macrosomic fetuses (7.0 mm versus 12.4 mm, respectively; p < 0.0001). There was a significant positive correlation between the abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness and the birth weight (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001). The negative predictive value for a range of cut-off points between 8 and 13 mm varied between 84.3% and 100% (for prevalence rates of macrosomia of 5-25%). However, the positive predictive value was less than 50% for cut-off values below 11 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonographic measurement of the subcutaneous tissue thickness of the fetal abdomen is useful for ruling out macrosomia.
Petrikovsky
B M
BM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Shore University Hospital-New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset 11030, USA.
Oleschuk
C
C
Lesser
M
M
Gelertner
N
N
Gross
B
B
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal