title: Three-dimensional sonographic volume measurement of the fetal lung.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the growth of the fetal lung in normal pregnancies, using 3-D ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  3-D sonographic examinations were performed on 14 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses. Fetal lung volumes (left, right, and total lung volumes) were measured every 2-3 weeks from 20 weeks of gestational age until delivery. The common multiplanar technique was used to calculate fetal lung volume.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curvilinear relationships were found between the gestational age and left (R2 = 86.9%, P < 0.0001), right (R2 = 83.9%, P < 0.0001) and total (R2 = 83.8%, P < 0.0001) lung volumes. The data described in this study were fairly comparable with previous data from autopsy series. However, there were big differences for predicted values of the fetal total lung volumes using 3-D ultrasound among the present study and previous investigations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the standard curve for fetal lung volume using 3-D ultrasound provides a role for evaluating the normal lung growth in the fetus. However, we do cast doubt on the reliability and reproducibility of fetal lung volume measurements using 3-D ultrasound. Moreover, the data and its interpretation in our study should be taken with some degree of caution because of the small number of subjects studied. Further studies involving a larger sample size would be needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Miki, Kagawa, Japan. toshi28@med.kagawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Shu-Yan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inubashiri
authors.forename: Uiko
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hanaoka
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanenishi
authors.forename: Chizu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*