Ultrasonographic measurement of fetal growth parameters for estimation of gestational age and fetal weight.

The present study was undertaken to establish accurate, convenient, simple and rapid ultrasonographic measurements of fetal parameters and their correlation with gestational age and fetal weight. Relationship with gestational age was studied in 60 fetuses from 348 measurements of the biparietal diameter (BPD) and was also correlated with eight other parameters. There is no doubt that the BPD is the most reliable parameter for estimation of gestational age. In 34 infants, 306 measurements of nine fetal parameters taken within four days before delivery were correlated with their birth weights. Abdominal area gave the highest correlation, compared with other parameters or their combinations. Since combined measurements of several parameters gave only a slightly higher multiple correlation (R = 0.89) with fetal weight than the measurement of abdominal area alone (r = 0.85), their use is not justified as a routine procedure.