Estimation of gestational age using fetal liver morphometry

Abstract

Background and Aim: The liver is a large organ in the body. Its various parameters can be utilized in determining the gestational age of the fetus and also in diagnosing pathologies affecting liver growth. The aim is to measure the various liver parameters in non deformed fetuses and to develop regression equations between the liver parameters and the gestational age. Materials and methods: The study was done on 30 aborted fetuses with varying gestational age from 13 to 32 weeks. Fetuses with any gross abnormalities were excluded. The crown rump length was measured for all. Dissection was done and the livers were removed weighed, length of right border, length of the border, width of superior surface, distance of porta hepatis to the right and left border were recorded using manual vernier caliper. Result: The various parameters of the liver showed a strong correlation with the CRL and hence the gestational age. Conclusion: The determination of the gestational age of the fetus using the correlation between the crown rump length and the liver morphometry can be done accurately.

Keywords

• fetus
• liver
• crl
• morphometry