Carol Peterson

The transverse cerebellar diameter in the second trimester is unaffected by Down syndrome

Cerebellar hypoplasia is a consistent finding in necropsy studies of children and adults affected by Down syndrome. The transverse cerebellar diameter was measured in 23 second-trimester fetuses with Down syndrome. All the measurements were within the normal range for gestational age.

The effect of trisomy 18 on transverse cerebellar diameter

The transverse cerebellar diameter was measured in 19 fetuses with trisomy 18. Eleven of the cerebellar measurements (57.9%) were greater than 2 SD below the mean for the patients gestational age. If fetal biometry rather than last menstrual period were used to determine gestational age, four of the 19 (21.0%) cerebellar measurements were greater than 2 SD below the mean. Both intrauterine growth retardation and intrinsic central nervous system abnormalities associated with trisomy 18 appeared to affect cerebellar size.

Fetal heart circumference as a predictor of menstrual in fetuses affected by disturbances in growth

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to evaluate the relationship between fetal heart circumference and gestational age and (2) to determine the effect, if any, of disturbances in fetal growth on heart circumference. STUDY DESIGN Heart circumference was measured in 262 women with normal gestations (control group) and in two study groups consisting of 52 large-for-gestational age 32 small-for-gestational age fetuses. Standardized, gestational age-adjusted values in the two study groups were compared with normative data provided by the control group. RESULTS There was a close correlation (R2 = 0.94) between heart circumference and gestational age in normally growing fetuses. Disturbances of fetal growth (i.e., macrosomia and growth retardation) were found to have an inconsistent effect on heart circumference. CONCLUSION Heart circumference cannot be used as an independent parameter for gestational age evaluation in fetuses with disturbances of growth.

Sonographic evaluation of the cervix during ovulation induction

With the induction of ovulation, clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin have the potential to stimulate the endocervical glands. We have found that the degree of mucus production can occasionally be quite large and hence is detectable by sonographic evaluation as an anechoic cervical mass. The incidence of this specific ultrasonic finding was found to be approximately 5%. This physiologic process should be differentiated from disease states affecting the cervix.

A combined historic and sonographic score for the detection of intrauterine growth retardation

Sonographic analysis of fetal biometry has been useful in the antepartum detection of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Little attention, however, has been focused upon elements of the maternal and fetal history that may significantly affect the likelihood of IUGR. To define more precisely both the clinical and sonographic parameters associated with IUGR, we studied the following variables: routine fetal biometry (biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length), fetal weight percentile, amniotic fluid volume, and an antenatal scoring system for IUGR. One hundred one consecutive fetuses with an estimated fetal weight at or below the tenth percentile for gestational age formed the study population. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that weight percentile was the single most important sonographic parameter in the detection of IUGR. Maternal history and femur length were also found to be important independent predictors of IUGR.