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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
High Frequency Ultrasound for the Analysis of Fetal and Placental Development In Vivo
Published on: November 8, 2018
Variation in fetal ultrasound biometry based on differences in fetal ethnicity
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group Inc, Honolulu, HI, USA.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to evaluate whether fetal ultrasound biometry is affected by variation in fetal ethnicity compared with white controls.
Study Design:
This was a retrospective observational study of ultrasound biometry in pregnant women with accurate gestational age.
Results:
Three hundred five white, 370 Asian, 895 part Hawaiian, 76 Pacific Islander, and 311 white Asian fetuses were analyzed. At 18 weeks gestation femur length was significantly shorter in Asian and white Asian. Humerus length was significantly shorter in Asian, part Hawaiian, and white Asian. White genetic sonogram was positive 14% for femur and 15% for humerus. The following was found: Asian 29% femur (odds ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-3.92), 25% humerus (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.23-2.82); part Hawaiian 21% femur (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.14-2.45), 23% humerus (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.13-2.38); Pacific Islander 27% femur (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.23-4.54), 33% humerus (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.47-5.14); and white Asian 20% femur (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.01-2.46), 22% humerus (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.01-2.42).
Conclusion:
Genetic sonogram was screen positive more frequently because of shorter long bone measurements in all nonwhite ethnicities.
