OBJECTIVE:

To create a nomogram for fetal splenic
circumference of normal fetuses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A prospective, cross-sectional study was
undertaken on normal pregnancies with certain date from 14 to 40 weeks of
gestation. All fetuses were measured for fetal splenic circumference by tracing
technique on transverse view of the fetal abdomen, using high-resolution
real-time ultrasound with a 2-4 MHz convex transducer.

RESULTS:

A total of 684 normal pregnant women
between 14 and 40 weeks of gestation were recruited. Fifty-eight were excluded
because of poor image quality and fetal abnormality. The remaining 626 were
available for analysis. Quadratic equation model was best fitted to estimate
the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile range of splenic circumference at each
gestational week. Fetal splenic circumference was gradually increased with
gestational age with fitted equation as follows: splenic circumference (cm) =
-4.181 + 0.456 (GA) -0.001 (GA)(2) (r = 0.942, p < 0.001). The table of
nomogram for various percentile ranges was constructed.

CONCLUSION:

A normal reference range of fetal splenic
circumference for each week of gestational age during 14-40 weeks is
established.