TRANSVERSE DIAMETER OF FETAL CEREBELLUM AS A MARKER FOR ACCURATE ESTIMATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE IN IUGR AND NORMAL PREGNANCIES DURING SECOND TRIMESTER

Abstract

Background: During the second trimester of both IUGR and normal cases, the transverse diameter of the fetal cerebellum has the potential to estimate GA with great accuracy.

Objective: In the second trimester of both IUGR and normal pregnancies, gestational age was estimated using the transverse diameter of the fetal cerebellum.

Methods: A comparison study was conducted with a total of 100 patients. The data were collected from Faysal Hospital Lahore. Procedures involving the Toshiba XARIO XG, utilizing a convex probe in the frequency range of 3-5 MHz, were employed. All women (n = 100), in their second trimester of pregnancy (between 14 and 28 weeks), were included in the study. Women in their first and third trimester were excluded (1st trimester: n = 50; 3rd trimester: n = 50). SPSS version 21.0 was employed for statistical analysis and data were presented in terms of mean and standard deviation.

Results: The transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) correlated well with gestational age (GA). There was consistency regarding TCD and GA amongst both IUGR and non-IUGR patient cohorts. A comparison between IUGR and non-IUGR patient cohorts demonstrated statistically significant results, confirming TCD as a consistent and reliable indicator of GA regardless of fetal growth status.

Conclusions: The transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) is a reliable measure for GA with a direct correspondence, even in cases of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). TCD, unlike other standard biometric measures, remains stable in the presence of fetal growth disturbances, and thus is a critical parameter in the assessment of fetal health. TCD, in combination with the abdominal circumference, may be useful in the identification of IUGR, but different population-based reference values would be required to account for variations in ethnicity, nutrition, and the environment. Therefore, TCD is an indispensable parameter for accurate GA estimation that greatly enhances obstetric practice and understanding globally.