[Screening for fetal growth abnormalities by measuring the skull and thoracic perimeters using real-time ultra-sound (author's transl)].

The object of this work is to demonstrate a new rapid method of working out the thoracic and skull perimeters iK the fetus using real time ultra-sound. Normal growth curves have been established as a result of 1955 measurements of the perimeters of the thorax and 729 measurements of the perimeters of the skull in 1344 patients pregnant with a single fetus. the gestational age had been checked by an ultra-sound examination between the 12th and the 20th week of the pregnancy. 43 newborn were light in weight below the 10th percentile on Lubchenco's curve. An analysis of these results shows that the diagnosis of growth abnormalities is made most efficiently by using the perimeter of the thorax. It is suggested that systematic and repeated use of this measurement in the third trimester of pregnancy is of value.