Reliability of fetal anthropometry by ultrasound

Intra‐ and interobserver variability in fetal ultrasound measurements

“…This information is relevant in clinical practice as observers are often different at each evaluation. Previous studies examining reproducibility of fetal biometry measurements are limited in that they are small in number8, 13, included only a narrow range of gestations13, used ultrasound equipment that is now obsolete22, did not examine all biometric parts22, 23, used ‘non‐expert’ sonographers21, 24, and did not provide definitive numerical values for everyday clinical use since statistical methods yielding data of limited practical interpretive value (such as coefficients of variation and intra‐/interclass correlation coefficients)12, 13 were applied. This study addresses these limitations.…”

“…It is therefore surprising that relatively few large and robust studies have assessed the variability of ultrasound measurements in fetal biometry by different observers. When antenatal ultrasound examination was being evaluated initially, the accuracy of fetal measurements was investigated in a number of studies8–11. However, not all biometric parts were assessed in every study; scans were performed in relatively small numbers (range, 13–106), and the ultrasound equipment used is now obsolete.…”

Measurement error for ultrasound fetal biometry performed by paramedics in rural Bangladesh

“…Thus, measurement error must be minimized and the magnitude of expected error known and adequately documented. A number of studies have reported the effect of different technical problems affecting ultrasound measurements17, 18 and the accuracy of late pregnancy ultrasound measurements compared to postnatal size17. Few published studies, however, have provided quantitative estimates of the accuracy and precision of measurements at differing gestational ages.…”

Fetal and infant head circumference sexual dimorphism in primates

“…Head circumference measurement error is usually no greater than about 1 mm. Unlike ultrasound, this measure includes the thickness of the scalp, which at term is about 8 -10 mm in human neonates (Fescina and Ucieda, 1980;Fescina and Martell, 1983). It is also influenced by edema and hair thickness.…”