Differences in measurements of the atria of the lateral ventricle: does gender matter?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible differences in measurements of the width of atria of the lateral cerebral ventricles of male and female fetuses.


METHODS
A prospectively entered database was reviewed to identify patients undergoing ultrasound examination at > 13 weeks between July 1, 1994 and June 30, 1995. Inclusion criteria included identification of fetal gender, measurement of the atria, and the absence of fetal anomalies.


RESULTS
The atrial width of the lateral ventricles was statistically greater in male than in female fetuses (7.1 vs. 7.0 mm, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Although statistically significant, the difference between genders in the measurement of the ventricular atria is too small to be of clinical utility.
Kramer
R L
RL
Division of Reproductive Genetics, Hutzel Hospital/Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich. 48201, USA. rkramer@cms.cc.wayne.edu
Yaron
Y
Y
Johnson
M P
MP
Evans
M I
MI
Treadwell
M C
MC
Wolfe
H M
HM
D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal