THE LIMITATIONS OF ULTRASONIC FETAL CEPHALOMETRY

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Abstract
Summary: The sources of error inherent in many commonly used measuring instruments are well understood and documented. This is not the case for ultrasound equipment when used to assess the rate of growth of the fetal skull in utero. This paper describes various sources of error which can affect the measurement of the fetal biparietal diameter; it also describes a method by which an operator might assess his own degree of competence. We conclude that these sources of error have been insufficiently appreciated in the past and while it is possible to determine the growth rate of the fetal skull the time interval necessary to measure this with a clinically realistic degree of confidence is not less than three weeks. If ultrasound methods of measurement are to find a place in clinical practice the techniques need to be more stringently appraised.

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