Soft tissue volume of upper arm in predicting small-for-gestational-age fetuses using three-dimensional ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of fetal soft tissue volume (STV) of the upper arm in predicting small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US).


METHODS
We used 3D US to test the accuracy of fetal STV of the upper arm measurement in predicting SGA in a prospective cross-sectional study.


RESULTS
Fetal STV of the upper arm assessed by 3D US can differentiate SGA fetuses from appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) fetuses. Using the 5th percentile as the cutoff, the sensitivity of fetal upper arm STV in predicting SGA fetuses was 84.1%, specificity, 93.4%, positive predictive value, 71.1%, negative predictive value, 96.8%, and overall accuracy, 91.9%. In addition, the diagnostic accuracy of fetal arm STV was better than that of the biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, and femur length.


CONCLUSIONS
Fetal STV of upper arm assessment by 3D US is a novel method to predict SGA fetuses.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
Chiung-Hsin
CH
Chang
Pei-Yin
PY
Tsai
Chen-Hsiang
CH
Yu
Huei-Chen
HC
Ko
Fong-Ming
FM
Chang
D001132:Arm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*