Accuracy of Fetal Transcerebellar Diameter in Estimation of Gestational Age in Small for Gestational Age Fetus

Abstract

bjective knowledge of the expected date of delivery (EDD) is essential in management of all pregnancies particularly the method of delivery, management of high risk pregnancies, elective planned induction of labour and elective caesarean for previous caesarean section deliveries. The obstetrician calculates the EDD as 280 days or 40 weeks from the first day of the LMP. In women with regular 28-day menstrual periods, the method is fairly accurate, but if cycles are irregular, substantial miscalculations may be made. Hence, the day of delivery is not always easy to determine. Higher perinatal mortality has been reported in patients whose expected date of confinement is not known as compared to those in whom it is known. Determination of fetal age and growth is crucial in planning pregnancy management, especially for lowbirth-weight infants. Ultrasound screened and managed pregnancies with low-birth-weight babies reduce the mortality rate by 60%. Fetal age and growth are assessed by crown-rump length during the 5th to 10th weeks of gestation. After that, a combination of measurement-including the Biparietal (BPD) of the skull, femur length, and abdominal circumference are used. Multiple measures of these