title: Prenatal assessment of pulmonary maturity on 3-D ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of 3-D ultrasound indices to evaluate fetal lung maturity, and to establish a normal reference for fetal lung volume (FLV) and fetal lung-to-liver intensity ratio (FLLIR) in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1022 pregnant women with singleton pregnancy were prospectively studied between June 2008 to June 2011. Ultrasound examination was performed. The breathing-related nasal fluid flow (BRNFF) spectrum, FLV, pulmonary artery blood flow parameters, and echo intensity of the lung were calculated. Phosphoglycerides in the amniotic fluid were measured on thin layer chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FLLIR and FLV were positively and linearly correlated with gestational age (F = 0.915, 0.846). Indicators of fetal lung maturity included FLLIR >1.1, FLV >50 mL, and regular BRNFF spectrum, with positive likelihood ratios of 12.28, 11.78, and 11.63, independently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound indices, including FLLIR, FLV and BRNFF may serve as useful alternatives to amniotic fluid phospholipids in analyzing fetal lung maturity in Chinese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Sha-Sha
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Ye
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ye
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, Shanxi Province, China. fckxjtu@yahoo.cn.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D005865:Gestational Age; D020404:Glycerophospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008099:Liver; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020404:Glycerophospholipids
keywords: fetal lung maturity; fetal lung volume; fetal lung-to-liver intensity; nasal fluid flow; ultrasound indices