Fetal penile length.
OBJECTIVE
To construct a reference range for fetal penile length.


METHODS
The length of the penis was measured during ultrasound assessment of 95 structurally normal male fetuses of gestational ages 16-38 weeks. Two fetuses with bladder outflow obstruction were also examined.


RESULTS
Fetal penile length increases significantly with gestational age, from a mean value of 6.0 mm at 16 weeks to 26.4 mm at 38 weeks. One fetus with urethral agenesis had a penile length on the 0.3rd centile.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of the fetal penis is easy and not time-consuming. In cases of bladder outflow obstruction, assessment of penile length assists in the differentiation between urethral agenesis and posterior urethral valves.
Johnson
P
P
Imperial College School of Medicine, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK. pjohnson@ic.ac.uk
Maxwell
D
D
D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging