In the field of radiology and obstetrics, fetal biometric measurements play a crucial role in estimating gestational age, evaluating intrauterine growth, and distinguishing normal from abnormal fetuses. These measurements are essential for predicting birth weight, which aids in managing neonatal care effectively. While traditional methods like fundal height measurement are subjective and operator-dependent, ultrasound has become the gold standard for fetal anthropometric measurements.
Various studies have highlighted the significance of ultrasound in obtaining accurate fetal measurements. However, most growth centiles derived from sonographic measurements have been based on European and American populations, with limited data from Asian cohorts. Recognizing the need for population-specific data, a study in Pakistan aimed to establish growth centile charts for fetal biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length, and head circumference in a Pakistani cohort.
The research, conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, collected data from low-risk pregnant Pakistani women between 13 and 40 weeks of gestation. A total of 1599 fetal biometric measurements were analyzed to develop reference percentiles for each parameter at different gestational weeks. The study utilized linear, quadratic, and cubic regression models to estimate the relationship between biometric parameters and gestational age, with a focus on creating growth charts tailored to the local population.
The findings revealed linear growth patterns for all fetal biometric parameters throughout pregnancy. Biparietal diameter and head circumference exhibited rapid growth in the first half of pregnancy, while femur length and abdominal circumference showed accelerated growth rates in the later stages. The study also identified specific gestational weeks where certain parameters, such as abdominal circumference and femur length, peaked at the 95th percentile.
Comparisons with existing charts from other populations demonstrated close agreement for biparietal diameter, head circumference, and femur length centiles. However, variations in abdominal circumference centiles were noted, possibly attributed to socioeconomic or ethnic differences among study populations. Despite some limitations, such as single-center data collection and lack of ethnic stratification, the study emphasized the utility of the derived fetal biometry charts for assessing fetal growth in the Pakistani context.
In conclusion, the establishment of fetal biometry centile charts specific to the Pakistani population offers valuable insights for radiologists and clinicians in monitoring fetal development, predicting delivery dates, and identifying potential growth anomalies. Further multicenter studies are recommended to explore potential ethnic variations in fetal growth across diverse population groups in Pakistan.
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