title: Fetal Heart Size: A Comparison Between the Point-to-Point Trace and Automated Ellipse Methods Between 20 and 40 Weeks' Gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the global area and circumference of the heart varies between two measurement techniques: the point-to-point trace and the electronic ellipse methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  The epicardial border of the 4-chamber view was measured in 200 fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks' gestation, from which the area and circumference using the point-to-point trace and electronic ellipse were measured. Analysis of variance, correlation, and regression analysis using fractional polynomials and 7 independent variables (head circumference, biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length, estimated fetal weight, mean ultrasound gestational age, and last menstrual period gestational age) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correlation between the mean ultrasound gestational age and last menstrual period gestational age was 0.9880 (5% confidence limit, 0.9716; 95% confidence limit, 0.9880), with an R2of 0.9762. The R2value for the 7 independent variables regressed against the area and circumference using the point-to-point trace and electronic ellipse methods ranged between 0.885 and 0.965. Comparison of Z scores between this study and previous publications demonstrated that there were differences and similarities, depending on whether the area or circumference was measured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows high R2values when comparing measurements of the area and circumference against 7 independent variables, irrespective of whether the point-to-point trace or the electronic ellipse method was used to obtain the measurements. A calculator to evaluate the area and circumference is provided, using 7 independent variables from which Z scores and percentiles for individual measurements can be computed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA grdevore@gmail.com.|Fetal Diagnostic Centers, Pasadena, Tarzana, and Lancaster, California USA grdevore@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Greggory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: DeVore
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, California USA.
authors.forename: Kareem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tabsh
authors.affiliation: Fetal Diagnostic Centers, Pasadena, Tarzana, and Lancaster, California USA.
authors.forename: Bardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Polanco
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Satou
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sklansky
mesh_terms: D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Z score; cardiomegaly; fetal echocardiography; heart