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. 2015 Jun;212(6):820.e1-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.03.042. Epub 2015 Mar 25.

Diagnostic accuracy of fundal height and handheld ultrasound-measured abdominal circumference to screen for fetal growth abnormalities

Adriane F Haragan  1 , Thomas C Hulsey  2 , Angela F Hawk  3 , Roger B Newman  4 , Eugene Y Chang  4
Affiliations

Diagnostic accuracy of fundal height and handheld ultrasound-measured abdominal circumference to screen for fetal growth abnormalities

Adriane F Haragan et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to compare fundal height and handheld ultrasound-measured fetal abdominal circumference (HHAC) for the prediction of fetal growth restriction (FGR) or large for gestational age.

Study design: This was a diagnostic accuracy study in nonanomalous singleton pregnancies between 24 and 40 weeks' gestation. Patients underwent HHAC and fundal height measurement prior to formal growth ultrasound. FGR was defined as estimated fetal weight less than 10%, whereas large for gestational age was defined as estimated fetal weight greater than 90%. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated and compared using methods described elsewhere.

Results: There were 251 patients included in this study. HHAC had superior sensitivity and specificity for the detection of FGR (sensitivity, 100% vs 42.86%) and (specificity, 92.62% vs 85.24%). HHAC had higher specificity but lower sensitivity when screening for LGA (specificity, 85.66% vs 66.39%) and (sensitivity, 57.14% vs 71.43%).

Conclusion: HHAC could prove to be a valuable screening tool in the detection of FGR. Further studies are needed in a larger population.

Keywords: fetal growth abnormalities; fundal height; ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1. Fetal abdominal circumference obtained with USAC
USAC, ultrasound abdominal circumference. Haragan. Handheld abdominal circumference v fundal height. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2. Fetal abdominal circumference obtained with HHAC
HHAC, handheld ultrasound abdominal circumference. Haragan. Handheld abdominal circumference v fundal height. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3. Correlation between HHAC and AC from formal growth ultrasound
AC, abdominal circumference; HHAC, handheld ultrasound abdominal circumference. Haragan. Handheld abdominal circumference v fundal height. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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