Efficacy of mathematical methods for ultrasound examinations in diabetic pregnancies

The efficacy of a new principle for evaluation of fetal growth has been compared to standard methods in a population of pregnant diabetic women. Methods for projecting fetal weight at birth and determining the deviation of growth from an expected fetal weight increase based on our growth model provided significant information for the detection of fetal growth abnormalities 3 weeks (mean) before delivery. (Large for gestational age: sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 85%. Small for gestational age: sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98%.) With the exception of two models for estimation of fetal weight based on ultrasound measurements of the fetal head and abdomen only, none of the standard methods gave results that were significantly better than the use of the biparietal diameter against a population standard. The new methods are expected to provide valuable information for the treatment of fetal growth disorders.