Prenatal ultrasonographic fetal rib length measurement: correlation with gestational age

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1996 Mar;7(3):193-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1996.07030193.x.

Abstract

The availability of normal data on fetal rib bone length would be of value in a variety of circumstances under which ultrasound examinations are performed. Fetal rib length measurements were obtained in 257 singleton fetuses in a prospective cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of pregnancies between 14 and 40 weeks with no evidence of growth disturbances, or structural or karyotypic abnormalities. Fetal rib length, as a function of gestational age, was expressed by the regression equation: RL = -0.5834 + 0.2030 (GA), where RL is the rib length in centimeters and GA the gestational age in weeks. The correlation was R = 0.94 (p < 0.0001). The normal limits of fetal rib length are defined, and a high correlation between fetal rib length, gestational age, and other standard determinants of fetal growth is demonstrated. Our results indicate that fetal rib length can be a useful adjunct in determining normal fetal growth and in the management of the pregnancy with fetal skeletal dysplasia.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Fetus / anatomy & histology*
  • Gestational Age*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reference Values
  • Ribs / diagnostic imaging
  • Ribs / embryology*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*