Fetal liver volume measurement by three‐dimensional ultrasonography: a preliminary study

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective To establish the application of three‐dimensional ultrasonography in measuring fetal liver volume during the second half of normal pregnancy. Design A prospective cross‐sectional study of normal fetal liver volume at 19–39 weeks of gestation (median 29 weeks). Subjects Thirty‐four non‐smoking women with a singleton pregnancy resulting in the delivery of a healthy infant with a birth weight between the 5th and 95th centiles according to the Kloosterman tables adjusted for maternal parity and fetal sex. Methods For fetal liver volume measurements, a simultaneous recording of a frontal section of the liver immediately anterior to the stomach and a sagittal section of the liver were obtained using a standard Combison 530 ultrasound machine with a 5‐MHz annular array transducer for volume scanning. Results Technically acceptable fetal liver volume measurements were obtained in 25 of 34 participating women. Mean fetal liver volume data (P50) ranged between 8 ml at 20 weeks' gestation and 116 ml at 38 weeks' gestation. A statistically significant increase in normal fetal liver volume was found with advancing gestational age (p < 0.0001) and with increasing estimated fetal weight (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Three‐dimensional ultrasound allows measurement of fetal liver volume, and this demonstrated an approximately 14‐fold increase during the second half of pregnancy. It is speculated that three‐dimensional fetal liver volume measurement may identify the fetus at risk of growth restriction. Copyright © 1998 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: