Nasal bone length in human fetuses by X-ray.
Felipe Nobre Moura1, Pablo Lourenco Fernandes, Geraldo de Oliveira Silva-Junior
1Department of Orthodontics of Dentistry School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Early Human Development
|February 1, 2008
Summary
Prenatal nasal bone length (NBL) in fetuses strongly correlates with gestational age, crown-rump length, and foot length. This measurement is a useful auxiliary tool for assessing second-trimester fetal development, regardless of ethnicity.
Area of Science:
- Prenatal diagnostics
- Fetal development assessment
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Establishing normal ranges for prenatal measurements is crucial for fetal development assessment.
- The nasal bone length (NBL) is a potential biometric parameter.
- Previous studies have not focused on Brazilian populations or considered ethnic background variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a normal range for prenatal nasal bone length (NBL) in a Brazilian fetal cohort.
- To investigate the correlation between NBL and other fetal biometric parameters.
- To assess the utility of NBL as an auxiliary marker for second-trimester fetal development.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 35 fetuses (14-22 weeks gestation) was studied.
- Nasal bone length (NBL) was measured from lateral X-ray views.
- NBL was correlated with gestational age (GA), crown-rump length (CRL), foot length (FL), and body mass (BM) using allometric models.
Main Results:
- Nasal bone length (NBL) showed significant positive correlations with gestational age (GA), crown-rump length (CRL), and foot length (FL).
- No significant sexual dimorphism in NBL growth was observed during the second trimester.
- NBL exhibited positive allometric growth relative to GA, CRL, and BM, but negative allometry relative to FL.
Conclusions:
- Nasal bone length (NBL) is a reliable auxiliary measurement for assessing second-trimester fetal development.
- The strong correlations with GA, CRL, and FL support its use irrespective of population ethnicity.
- NBL can aid in evaluating fetal growth and development during the second trimester.
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