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Thigh circumference in the detection of intrauterine growth retardation
L M Hill1, D Guzick, M L Thomas
1University of Pittsburgh Health System, Magee-Womens Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania.
Insights
Diagnosing fetal growth restriction is challenging. Measuring thigh circumference may improve detection of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) due to characteristic muscle wasting, offering a valuable additional ultrasound parameter.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Fetal Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) increases perinatal mortality and long-term neurobehavioral issues.
- Accurate antenatal diagnosis of IUGR remains challenging despite advanced fetal assessment tools.
- Fetal growth inhibition presents variable effects, making single ultrasonic parameters insufficient for definitive diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of fetal thigh circumference in identifying intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
- To determine the sensitivity and specificity of thigh circumference measurement for IUGR detection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of sonographic parameters in fetuses.
- Focus on thigh circumference measurements in fetuses with and without IUGR.
- Statistical evaluation of sensitivity and specificity for thigh circumference.
Main Results:
- Reduced thigh circumference is associated with muscle wasting, a characteristic of IUGR.
- Thigh circumference demonstrated a sensitivity of 77.8% for detecting IUGR.
- The specificity of thigh circumference measurement for IUGR was found to be 75%.
Conclusions:
- Fetal thigh circumference is a potentially valuable additional sonographic parameter for evaluating IUGR.
- This measurement may aid in the diagnosis of growth-retarded fetuses when other parameters are inconclusive.
Abstract:
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is associated with an increase in perinatal mortality as well as long-term neurobehavioral morbidity. Despite the increasing sophistication of antenatal fetal assessment, the diagnosis of growth retardation remains difficult. Since the fetal effects of growth inhibition are variable, no one ultrasonic parameter can diagnose with certainty the growth-retarded fetus. The reduction of thigh circumference with IUGR is secondary to the muscle wasting that is characteristic of this disease process. The sensitivity (77.8%) and specificity (75%) of thigh circumference may make it a useful additional sonographic parameter in the evaluation of fetal growth retardation.