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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
High Frequency Ultrasound for the Analysis of Fetal and Placental Development In Vivo
Published on: November 8, 2018
Thickness of fetal membranes: a possible ultrasound marker for preterm delivery
F M Severi1, C Bocchi, C Voltolini
1Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Objective:
To evaluate whether measurement of the thickness of the fetal membranes by high-resolution ultrasound is a useful marker to predict preterm delivery.
Methods:
One hundred and fifty-eight women with singleton pregnancies at 18-35 gestational weeks were enrolled consecutively at our referral center for obstetric care and the thickness of their fetal membranes was measured using high-resolution ultrasound equipment. Data were analyzed to determine whether there were significant differences between those delivering at term and those delivering preterm. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine the best cut-off point of membrane thickness for predicting preterm birth.
Results:
Women who delivered preterm had greater fetal membrane thickness than did those who delivered at term (1.67 +/- 0.27 mm vs. 1.14 +/- 0.30 mm, P < 0.0001). For the best cut-off indicated by ROC curve analysis (1.2 mm), the sensitivity and specificity for predicting preterm birth were 100% (95% CI, 80.3-100) and 69.5% (95% CI, 61.2-77.0), respectively, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3.3 and 0.0, respectively.
Conclusion:
Sonographic measurement of fetal membrane thickness could be helpful in the prediction of preterm delivery.
