Estimation of Gestational Age by Using Fetal Kidney Length and Transcerebellar Diameter in Comparison with Other Biometric Indices

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt.

2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Cairo, Egypt.

3 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, El-Minia Faculty of Medicine

Abstract

Background and aim of the work:Physicians need precise estimates of gestational age in order to plan for accurate management.Ultrasound measurements,such as(BPD),(HC),(AC),and(FL),throughout the second and third trimesters,lack high reliability.Research on the association between gestational age and the length of(FKL)and(TCD)has shown a strong correlation.We sought to evaluate the precision of FKL and TCD measures in estimating the GA in comparison to other fetal biometric markers.Methods:This study was a prospective observational study carried out at the prenatal and fetomaternal clinics of Minia Maternity University Hospital in Minia,Egypt.The study took place from March to September 2023.The study comprised a sample of 77 women who had normal,uncomplicated pregnancies with a single fetus.The women had measurements of the right and left kidneys,(TCD),and other fetal biometric indices,recorded in millimeters and weeks,and mean values were documented.GA was determined by last menstrual period (LMP).Results:The average age of the women included in the study was 27.13±5.31 years,with a range of 18-40 years.The median number of pregnancies and abortions were 2 and 3,respectively.The range for pregnancies was between 0 and 6 times,while the range for abortions was between 1 and 9 times.The majority of cases(80.5%)had a cephalic presentation. Gestational age(GA)exhibits a strong positive connection with many fetal indices,including(FKL)and(TCD)measurements(p<0.001).Strong positive connection was found between GA and the predicted age determined by MFKL and TCD in millimeters(r= 0.885;p<0.001 and r=0.966,p<0.001)respectively.Conclusion:Based on the current findings,it can be concluded that;MFKL and TCD can serve as reliable new indicators for estimating gestational age, particularly throughout the second and third trimesters (19 to 39 weeks) of pregnancy.

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