title: Fetal age estimation using orbital measurements: 3D CT-scan study including the effects of trisomy 21.
abstract: This study evaluates a new method of fetal age estimation based on orbital measurement and including the potential trisomy 21 of the fetus. Six orbital and one facial CT-scan measurements were taken on 71 fetuses ranging from 14 to 41 weeks of gestational age. Forty-eight fetuses were "normal" and 23 fetuses presented the Down syndrome (trisomy 21). The anatomy/imagery correspondence was evaluated comparing our results to those obtained by direct bone measurements on the same fetuses and revealed no significant differences between the two kinds of measurements. Moreover, a multiple linear stepwise regression was realized to estimate fetal age and showed that the "trisomy 21 parameter" is not conserved in the final determination model. Therefore, we conclude that the good radio-anatomical correspondence offers an interesting alternative to direct bone measurement (necessitating dissections) and allows a reliable fetal age determination, whatever is the trisomy 21 condition of the fetus.
authors.affiliation: UMR 6578 (Anthropologie bioculturelle), Université de la Méditerranée- CNRS - EFS, Faculté de Médecine Nord, 51 Boulevard Pierre Dramard, 13916 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pommier
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adalian
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaudart
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panuel
authors.forename: Marie-Dominique
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Piercecchi-Marti
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leonetti
mesh_terms: D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016015:Logistic Models; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed