title: First trimester fetal head and trunk volume predict growth disturbance in twin pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of first trimester fetal head and trunk volume (FHTV) in predicting growth disturbance in twin pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 46 twin pairs from 11 and 14 weeks to delivery. There were 35 dichorionic (76%) and 11 monochorionic (24%) pregnancies. FHTV was assessed by VOCALTM. An inter-twin discrepancy in FHTV, crown-rump length (CRL) and birthweight (BW) were defined by an inter-twin difference greater than 15%. Growth retardation was defined as BW of at least one twin below the 10th percentile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 17 cases (37%) of FHTV discrepancy. BW discrepancy and growth retardation were more significantly frequent in cases with FHTV discrepancy than without [11/17 (64.7%) vs 4/29 (13.8%), P = 0.0004 and 7/17 (41.2%) vs 3/29 (10.3%), P = 0.02, respectively]. The detection of BW discordance and growth retardation were significantly higher when using FHTV discordance than CRL discrepancy in the first trimester [11/15 (73%) vs 2/15 (13.3%), P = 0.00001 and 7/10 (70%) vs 1/10 (10%), P = 0.0001, respectively].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FHTV discrepancy is a predictor for growth disturbance in twins.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cadiz, Spain. marian_fajardo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fajardo-Expósito
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hervías
authors.forename: F Bugatto
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Melero-Jiménez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quintero-Prado
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Facio-Fernández
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bartha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018568:Crown-Rump Length; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011379:Prognosis; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D014427:Twins; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal