Rotondi M, Valenzano F, Bilancioni E, Spanò G, Rotondi M, Giorlandino C
Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Artemisia Medical Center, Rome, Italy.
Prenat Diagn. 2001 Feb;21(2):112-5. doi: 10.1002/1097-0223(200102)21:2<112::aid-pd2>3.0.co;2-1.
Prenatal ultrasonography has evolved through advancements in imaging technology and observer experience. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate fetal testicular descent and diameter in relation to gestational age. A prospective cross-sectional study on 331 fetuses from an unselected population underwent a detailed assessment of testicular descent and diameter at 20-40 weeks' gestation by means of transabdominal sonography (91.2%) and transvaginal sonography (8.8%) when necessary. Fetal gender was identified in the transverse and sagittal planes and maximum testicular diameter was measured. The mean testicular diameter (in millimeters) per week and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were defined. Testicular descent was not observed prior to 23 weeks' gestation, with 6.6% of the fetuses having one testis descended at 23 weeks and 98.2% after 32 weeks. A linear relationship between testicular diameter and gestational age was observed. The present results chart the time course for testicular descent and provide a centile chart for fetal testicular diameter from 25 to 40 weeks' gestation. These findings may aid prenatal diagnosis of associated abnormal conditions as well as investigations into the clinical finding of abnormal testicular size.
产前超声检查随着成像技术的进步和观察者经验的积累而不断发展。本研究的目的是评估胎儿睾丸下降情况及直径与孕周的关系。一项针对331例来自未选择人群胎儿的前瞻性横断面研究，在妊娠20 - 40周时，必要时通过经腹超声检查（91.2%）和经阴道超声检查（8.8%）对睾丸下降情况和直径进行详细评估。在横切面和矢状面确定胎儿性别并测量睾丸最大直径。定义了每周的平均睾丸直径（毫米）及95%置信区间（CI）。妊娠23周前未观察到睾丸下降，6.6%的胎儿在23周时有一个睾丸下降，32周后98.2%的胎儿睾丸下降。观察到睾丸直径与孕周之间呈线性关系。本研究结果绘制了睾丸下降的时间进程图，并提供了妊娠25至40周胎儿睾丸直径的百分位图。这些发现可能有助于相关异常情况的产前诊断以及对睾丸大小异常临床发现的研究。
