Fetal transverse cerebellar diameter measured by ultrasound does not differ between genders.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between fetal transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) and gestational age of male and female fetus in women under low-risk prenatal care between the 13th and 40th week of gestation.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out with 184 pregnant women, at the age of 18 years or more, gestational age ranging from 13 to 40 weeks, with a single fetus. A single TCD measurement by ultrasound was used for each fetus. Correlations between fetal TCD and gestational age were determined for the whole sample and each gender separately.

RESULTS

We identified 102 males and 82 female fetuses. A linear correlation was observed between fetal TCD and gestational age for the whole sample (r = 96.9%; p < 0.001). A significant linear correlation was also observed for both males (r = 97.0%; p < 0.001) and females (r = 96.9%; p < 0.001). Comparing the regression lines between genders, no significant difference was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The data of this study suggest TCD fetal ultrasound as a predictive biometric parameter of gestational age independently of fetal gender in the last two trimesters of a pregnancy.