Normal Growth of the Abdominal Perimeter

ABSTRACT

The value of the computed abdominal perimeter[1] has been studied in a cross-sectional study of 850 fetuses and in a longitudinal study of 46 fetuses (695 examinations). Our computed values differ from values reported for measured abdominal perimeter. The ratio of the abdominal perimeter to the femur length is proposed as a new parameter to assess fetal well-being. The advantages of this ratio-ease of computation, independence of gestational age, use of common and easily accessible parameters-are discussed. Nomograms of the values are provided.

1 There has been a recent trend in the ultrasonic literature to misuse the term circumference in place of the term perimeter. As the proper term is perimeter, there is good reason to abandon the erroneous use of the term circumference. Accordingly, the term perimeter will be substituted when referring to accepted concepts and the word circumference will only be used in the original references

1 There has been a recent trend in the ultrasonic literature to misuse the term circumference in place of the term perimeter. As the proper term is perimeter, there is good reason to abandon the erroneous use of the term circumference. Accordingly, the term perimeter will be substituted when referring to accepted concepts and the word circumference will only be used in the original references