title: Nomogram of fetal liver volume by three-dimensional ultrasonography at 27 to 38 weeks of pregnancy using a new multiplanar technique.
abstract: We sought to establish normative data for fetal liver volume (FLV) between 27 and 38 weeks' gestation using three-dimensional ultrasonography. The study design was a longitudinal prospective study involving 53 participants. A total of 250 FLV measurements were obtained, using the multiplanar method with 3.0-mm intervals. Polynomial regressions with adjustments using the determination coefficient ( R2) were used to assess the correlation between FLV and gestational age (GA) and fetal parameters (biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and estimated fetal weight). The mean, standard deviation, and median, minimum, and maximum values were calculated for each gestational age. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine inter- and intraobserver reliability. There was a high correlation between FLV and GA. The mean FLV went from 43.5 +/- 7.6 cm (3) (29.1 to 62.2 cm (3)) to 130.5 +/- 20.1 cm3 (87.5 to 191.1 cm3). There was a high correlation between FLV and all fetal biometric parameters (all P < 0.0001). Intraobserver and interobserver correlations were excellent with an ICC = 0.993 and 0.984, respectively. There was a high correlation between GA and biometric parameters. Reference limits were generated for FLV between 27 and 38 weeks. FLV is highly reproducible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Christina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Rizzi
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Angélica Lemos Debs
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Liliam Cristine
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D049451:Nomograms; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods