title: Position of the conus medullaris in fetuses with skeletal dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether reduced conus distance (CD) measurement may be a marker for impaired growth of the fetal trunk in fetuses with certain types of skeletal dysplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fifty-four normal cases and 24 pregnancies with skeletal dysplasia were included. The fetuses with skeletal dysplasia were subdivided into two groups based on the specific diagnosis: skeletal dysplasias with a short trunk and skeletal dysplasias with a normal size trunk. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship of the CD measurement with the biparietal diameter. CD measurements in the two groups of fetuses with skeletal dysplasia were compared using z-scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In fetuses with skeletal dysplasia and shortened trunk, the CD measurement was significantly smaller than in the normal population (mean z-score -3.7, p < 0.0001). CD measurements in fetuses with skeletal dysplasia but a normal trunk size were similar to the normal population (mean z-score -0.1, p = 0.997).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short CD is associated with certain types of skeletal dysplasia. As such, measuring the CD may be helpful in diagnosing these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoopmann
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sonek
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schramm
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zubke
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dufke
authors.forename: Karl Oliver
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Kagan
mesh_terms: D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D060726:Torso / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal