Sonographic Measurement of Fetal Ear Length in Turkish Women with a Normal Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Abnormal fetal ear length is a feature of chromosomaldisorders. Fetal ear length measurement is a simple measurement thatcan be obtained during ultrasonographic examinations.Aims: To develop a nomogram for fetal ear length measurements in ourpopulation and investigate the correlation between fetal ear length, gestationalage, and other standard fetal biometric measurements.Study Design: Cohort study.Methods: Ear lengths of the fetuses were measured in normal singletonpregnancies. The relationship between gestational age and fetal earlength in millimetres was analysed by simple linear regression. In addition,the correlation of fetal ear length measurements with biparietaldiameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femurlength were evaluated.Ear length measurements were obtained fromfetuses in 389 normal singleton pregnancies ranging between 16 and28 weeks of gestation.Results: A nomogram was developed by linear regression analysis ofthe parameters ear length and gestational age. Fetal ear length (mm)= y = (1.348 X gestational age)-12.265), where gestational ages is inweeks. A high correlation was found between fetal ear length and gestationalage, and a significant correlation was also found between fetalear length and the biparietal diameter (r=0.962; p