Fetal biometry in ethnic Chinese: biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length.

OBJECTIVES

To construct new reference charts and equations for fetal biometry in the Hong Kong ethnic Chinese population, and to compare them with existing references from different populations.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study involving 709 women with singleton pregnancies and confirmed gestational age. For the purposes of this study, each woman was scanned once only, between 12 and 40 completed weeks of gestation, and the following fetal biometric measurements were recorded: biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length. For each measurement, regression models were fitted to estimate the mean and SD at each gestational age. For comparison, the fetal biometric measurements of other populations at each gestation were expressed as Z-scores calculated with our reference equations. Results were presented graphically across the different gestational ages to allow visual comparison.

RESULTS

New charts and reference equations are reported in this Hong Kong Chinese population for fetal outer-inner and outer-outer biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length. Equations for dating of pregnancy are presented. Our charts were very similar to those of the Singaporean population for most parameters. The main difference in our fetal biometric measurements compared with those of the UK and French populations was in FL.

CONCLUSIONS

Our new set of reference centiles for fetal biometric measurements and equations for dating of pregnancy in a Hong Kong Chinese population are ready for clinical use and research in appropriate ethnic Chinese groups.