Sonographic diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by fetal transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD)/abdominal circumference (AC) ratio.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the validity of TCD/AC ratio in predicting IUGR.


METHODS
Prospective descriptive analysis.


METHODS
Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai University.


METHODS
Women meeting the inclusion criteria consisting of: (1) singleton pregnancies after 28 weeks of gestation; (2) known accurate gestational age; and (3) clinically suspected IUGR.


METHODS
The patients were sonographically examined for TCD/AC ratio. The best cut-off value of TCD/AC ratio in predicting IUGR was determined by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The fetus with a TCD/AC ratio greater than the cut-off value would be antenatally diagnosed as IUGR for every gestational week. Standard definition of IUGR was a low birthweight, less than the 10th percentile.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-seven pregnancies with suspected IUGR were analyzed. The prevalence of IUGR among the study group was 51.5%. The best cut-off value of the TCD/AC ratio for predicting IUGR was 15.4%, giving the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 73.26%, 80.25%, 79.75%, and 73.86%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The sonographic fetal TCD/AC ratio as a gestational age-independent method can be helpful in antenatal diagnosis of IUGR, especially in pregnancy with uncertain gestational age.
Tongsong
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T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
Wanapirak
C
C
Thongpadungroj
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T
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D000886:Anthropometry; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal