Fetal kidney measurement — additional biometric parameter for accurate gestational age assessment
, 2, 1, 1, 1
Abstract
Objectives: Ultrasound examination — recommended in the prenatal period — allows for an assessment of fetal anatomy and well-being and for monitoring its growth trend. Determining gestational age is important in monitoring the developing fetus. Research is increasingly being conducted in search of further biometric components that may improve ultrasound techniques in terms of predicting the gestational age. It should be noted that a fairly large number of publications focus on the accessibility of fetal kidneys to diagnostic imaging during routine ultrasound examination. The reported study was an attempt to answer the question whether fetal kidney dimensions correlated with gestational age. The obtained results are presented as fetal kidney normograms for particular weeks of gestation.
Material and methods: The study covered by dissertation was conducted among patients hospitalized at the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Zgierz, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Endoscopic Therapy, in the period from 1st April 2019 to 30th November 2019. The study group included patients in a single pregnancy. The control group was not included in the study. The ultrasound examinations, which are the basis of the study, were carried out using the PHILIPS Affiniti 70 ultrasound device, with a frequency of 3.5 MHz transabdominal transducer. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistica 13.1 program.
Conclusions: Kidney dimensions strongly correlated with gestational age. Fetal kidney growth was a linear process in normal pregnancy. Fetal kidney measurements can provide additional biometric parameters for accurate gestational age assessment.
Keywords: fetal anatomydetermining gestational agefetal kidneyfetal kidney normogramskidney dimensionsfetal kidney growth
References
- Hutchon DJ. 'Expert' analysis of menstrual and ultrasound data in pregnancy--gestational dating. J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998; 18(5): 435–438.
- [Polish Gynaecological Society guideline on prenatal diagnosis]. Ginekol Pol. 2009; 80(5): 390–393.
- McLeary RD, Kuhns LR, Barr M. Ultrasonography of the fetal cerebellum. Radiology. 1984; 151(2): 439–442.
- Goldstein I, Reece EA, Pilu G, et al. Cerebellar measurements with ultrasonography in the evaluation of fetal growth and development. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1987; 156(5): 1065–1069.
- Chalouhi GE, Bernard JP, Benoist G, et al. A comparison of first trimester measurements for prediction of delivery date. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2011; 24(1): 51–57.
- Kaul I, Menia V, Amandeep AK, et al. Role of Fetal Kidney Length in Estimation of Gestational Age. JK Sci J Med Educ Research. 2012; 14(2): 65–69.
- Jakubowski D, Salloum D, Torbe A, et al. The crown-rump length measurement - ISUOG criteria and clinical practice. Ginekol Pol. 2020; 91(11): 674–678.
- Edevbie JP, Akhigbe AO. Ultrasound measurement of fetal kidney length in normal pregnancy and correlation with gestational age. Niger J Clin Pract. 2018; 21(8): 960–966.
- Campbell S, Warsof SL, Little D, et al. Routine ultrasound screening for the prediction of gestational age. Obstet Gynecol. 1985; 65(5): 613–620.
- Butt K, Lim K, Lim K, et al. Determination of Gestational Age by Ultrasound. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. 2014; 36(2): 171–181.
- Sauerbrei E, Cooperberg PL, Poland BJ. Ultrasound demonstration of the normal fetal yolk sac. J Clin Ultrasound. 1980; 8(3): 217–220.
- Jeanty P, Rodesch F, Delbeke D, et al. Estimation of gestational age from measurements of fetal long bones. J Ultrasound Med. 1984; 3(2): 75–79.
- Whitworth M, Bricker L, Mullan C, et al. Ultrasound for fetal assessment in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015; 7: CD007058.
- Hershkovitz R, Sheiner E, Mazor M. Ultrasound in obstetrics: a review of safety. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2002; 101(1): 15–18.
- Hadlock FP, Harrist RB, Shah YP, et al. Estimating fetal age using multiple parameters: a prospective evaluation in a racially mixed population. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1987; 156(4): 955–957.
- Hadlock FP, Kent WR, Loyd JL, et al. An evaluation of two methods for measuring fetal head and body circumferences. J Ultrasound Med. 1982; 1(9): 359–360.
- Radoń-Pokracka M, Huras H, Jach R. [Intrauterine growth restriction--diagnosis and treatment]. Przegl Lek. 2015; 72(7): 376–382.
- Shivalingaiah N, K S, R A, et al. Fetal Kidney Length: Can be a New Parameter for Determination of Gestational Age in 3rd Trimester. TAJ. 2007; 20(2): 147–150.
- Chatterjee S, Yadav K, Prakash P, et al. Foetal kidney length as a parameter for determination of gestational age in pregnancy by ultrasonography. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 5(6): 1949–1952.
- Parulekar SG. Ultrasonographic demonstration of floating particles in amniotic fluid. J Ultrasound Med. 1983; 2(3): 107–110.
- Holanda-Filho JA, Souza AI, Souza AS, et al. Fetal transverse cerebellar diameter measured by ultrasound does not differ between genders. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2011; 284(2): 299–302.
- Nagesh R, Seetha Pramila VV, Anil KS. Transverse Cerebellar Diameter – An Ultrasonographic Parameter For Estimation of Fetal Gestational Age. Int J Contemp Med Res. 2016; 3(4): 1029–1031.
- Mahoney BS, Boei JD, Killan AP, et al. Epiphyseal Ossification Centers in the Assessment of Fetal Maturity. Radiology. 1982; 144: 159–162.
- Mercer BM, Sklar S, Shariatmadar A, et al. Fetal foot length as a predictor of gestational age. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1987; 156(2): 350–355.
- Konje JC, Abrams KR, Bell SC, et al. Determination of gestational age after the 24th week of gestation from fetal kidney length measurements. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2002; 19(6): 592–597.
- Romero R, Cullen M, Grannum P, et al. Antenatal diagnosis of renal anomalies with ultrasound. III. Bilateral renal agenesis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1985; 151(1): 38–43.
- Lobo MLP, Favorito LA, Abidu-Figueiredo M, et al. Renal pelvic diameters in human fetuses: anatomical reference for diagnosis of fetal hydronephrosis. Urology. 2011; 77(2): 452–457.
- Lawson TL, Foley WD, Berland LL, et al. Ultrasonic evaluation of fetal kidneys. Radiology. 1981; 138(1): 153–156.
- Ugur MG, Mustafa A, Ozcan HC, et al. Fetal kidney length as a useful adjunct parameter for better determination of gestational age. Saudi Med J. 2016; 37(5): 533–537.
- Toosi FS, Rezaie-Delui H. Evaluation of the normal fetal kidney length and its correlation with gestational age. Acta Med Iran. 2013; 51(5): 303–306.
- Konje JC, Okaro CI, Bell SC, et al. A cross-sectional study of changes in fetal renal size with gestation in appropriate- and small-for-gestational-age fetuses. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1997; 10(1): 22–26.
