[Surveillance of fetal growth and fetal cerebellar transverse diameter by ultrasonographic measurement]

Abstract

Measured fetal transverse cerebellar diameters were obtained by ultrasonography in 325 women during 20-42 weeks of gestation. A nomogram for transverse cerebellar diameter with respect to gestational age was generated. Curvilinear relationship was found between the transverse cerebellar diameter and the gestational age (R = 0.99624, P less than 0.0005). Fetal transverse cerebellar diameter, biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal diameter, abdominal circumference and femur length were measured by ultrasound in 39 women not more than one week before delivery. Correlation coefficients between the birth weights and these parameters were studied. It was found that the correlation between the transverse cerebellar diameter and the birth weight was the highest. The function of the transverse cerebellar diameter in the evaluation of fetal growth and development is better than any other parameter. The transverse cerebellar diameters of 20 IUGR cases were obtained. It was indicated that the growth of the transverse cerebellar diameter slowed down in primary symmetric IUGR, and was unaffected in secondary asymmetric IUGR. Thus it has clinical diagnostic value in symmetric IUGR. When combined with the abdominal circumference, the fetal cerebellar transverse diameter may help to differentiate the types of growth-retarded fetuses.