REAPPRAISAL OF SONOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE IN POSTTERM FETUSES

Abstract

SUMMARY The management of postterm pregnancy is subject to much debate (Cardozo et al, 1986). This debate might become a critical problem when the gestational age is not known for sure, since 40% of women do • not have sure or reliable menstrual dates (Campbell, 1974). Even in those with apparently sure dates, there was a possibility of error approaching 20% (Kamel et al, 1991 ). The sonographic parameters commonly used for gestational age estimation are only accurate if they were measured before 26 weeks (Selbing and Kjessler, 1985). The accuracy of the parameters commonly used in gestatinal age estimation is within ±3 weeks error range (Sabbagha et al, 1976 and Jeanty et al, 1984). When pregnancy is assumed to be postterm, a diagnostic difficulty will thus arise. This study is trying to solve this dilemma. One hundred and twenty patients from the attendees of the Out• • patient Clinic and In-patients in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Assiut University Hospitals were taken. They all had a singleton pregnancy free of malformations. The thirteen studied parameters for use were; (1) the biparietal diameter, (2) the femur length, (3) the humerus length (4) the tibial length, ( 5) the abdominal circumference, ( 6) estimated fetal weight (7) distal femoral epiphyseal center, (8) fetal kidney length, (9) fetal foot length, (10) transverse cerebellar diameter,