Normal Growth of the Abdominal Perimeter

P. Jeanty; E. Cousaert; F. Cantraine

doi:10.1055/s-2007-999988

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 1984; 1(2): 129-135
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-999988

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Normal Growth of the Abdominal Perimeter

P. Jeanty¹ , E. Cousaert² , F. Cantraine²

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; and Department of Radiology, Free University of Brussels, Hopital Erasmes Brussels, Belgium
²Computer Department, Free University of Brussels, Hopital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

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.

Full Text

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