Usefulness of fetal liver length measurement for the prediction of gestational age

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of fetal liver length measurement for the prediction of gestational age. Methodology: Longitudinal and prospective study between January 2016 and July 2024 in women with low-risk singleton pregnancies, between 14 and 40 weeks of gestation, who attended prenatal consultation at the Central Hospital “Dr. Urquinaona,” Maracaibo. Biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length, and fetal liver length were measured. Results: Data from 215 healthy pregnant women were selected for the final analysis. When analyzing the correlation between fetal liver length and gestational age by date of last menstrual period and the rest of the ultrasound variables used, strong, positive, and significant correlations were found (p < 0.0001). The value of the coefficient of determination of the gestational age model predicted by the measurement was 0.892. When combining the four ultrasound parameters studied, the resulting value of the coefficient of determination was 0.944. Conclusion: The measurement of fetal liver length constitutes a valuable and complementary tool in the prediction of gestational age. Moreover, its use in combination with other ultrasound parameters has a high coefficient of determination for the prediction of gestational age.