Foetal Cephalometry by Ultrasound

Abstract

ANNOTATIONSHowever, some recent studies8, l o seem to be reasonably reassuring. Nevertheless, until more is known about the possible harmful effects, it would seem advisable to reduce the number of scans carried out during pregnancy. This, of course, will apply more to scans in early pregnancy rather than t o measurements of the biparietal diameter. Assessments of the biparietal diameter are impossible before ten weeks since the fetal head is not formed and measurements are unsatisfactory before sixteen weeks. The most accurate time for maturity assessments is between twenty and thirty-four weeks. Accurate assessments of the duration of pregnancy can be made in the very early weeks, and such measurements would be of obvious value in doing serial estimations to assess fetal growth.Keeping in mind the possible inaccuracies, and limiting the number of scans done during pregnancy, ultrasonic measurement of the biparietal diameter is an extremely useful aid to the obstetrician. IAN MACGILLIVR.4Y . (1965) 'Fetal develoonient as deter-Gynaec. Brit. Cwlth, 71, 11. mined by ultrasonic pulse echo'techniques." Anivr.' J . Obsret. Gyitec., 92, 44. and complicated pregnancy.' Ann. Chir. Gynec, Fenn., 59, 71. diameter.'J. Ohstet. Gynaec. Brit. Cwlth, 76, 603. Gynec., 29, 842. 12, 114. detector.' Brit. nied. J . , 2, 92. Lancet, i, 11 33. 3 . Ojala, A., Ylostalo, P., Jouppila, P., Jarvinen, P. A. (1970) 'Fetal cephalometry by ultrasound in normal 4. Campbell, S. (1969) 'The prediction of fetal maturity by ultrasonic measurement of the biparietal 5. Hibbard, L. T., Anderson, G. V. (1967) 'Clinical applications of ultrasonic fetal cephalornetry.' Obster. 6. Kato, M . (1966) 'Visible mutation induced in Drosophila by ultrasonic vibration.' Bid/.

Comparison of Errors of 35 Weight Estimation Formulae in a Standard Collective

“…Besides bodily integrity, biometry serves to estimate foetal weight and thus the age-appropriate development. While the first formulae for weight estimation were based solely on measurement of the biparietal diameter (BPD), the further development of numerous formulae based on combinations of biometric markers then led to an advantage over clinical estimation methods such as inspection and palpation [1][2][3][4][5]. For the great majority of weight estimation formulae it holds that they have been developed by means of regression analyses based on relatively small collectives of average term infants.…”

Alterations in head shape of newborn infants after caesarean section or vaginal delivery.

“…The head may be moulded as it passes through the birth canal or after birth, by gravity, as the infant lies on one side or the other. It has been reported (Durkan and Russo, 1966;Willocks et al, 1964) that the steady increase in fetal biparietal diameter (BPD) during the third trimester of pregnancy is followed after birth by a sudden fall which may be due to moulding. Alterations in head shape after birth have been investigated in the present study in preterm infants, small-fordates infants born at term, and normal term infants.…”

Invisible Waves of Technology: Ultrasound and the Making of Fetal Images

“…Six years after the initial 1958 paper on ultrasounds in gynecology, emerged a paper showing the measurements of the fetal head. 40 The fetus/baby was finally born. In order to get this new image, a new machine was developed substituting the mechanical for a manual operating system.…”