GROWTH OF THE FETAL GALL-BLADDER IN NORMAL PREGNANCIES

Our objective was to obtain dimensions of the fetal gall bladder as a basis for further studies and to establish normative data to assess de viations in growth. The study group included 183 normal pregnant women from 13 to 40 weeks' gestation. Routine biometric measurements were o btained on all fetuses, including biparietal diameter, head and abdomi nal circumferences and measurements of the long bones and the two diam eters of the fetal gall bladder. The gall bladder area and circumferen ce were calculated for each gestational age. A linear growth function was observed across the gestational age and a first-degree correlation was found to exist between gestational age and both the longitudinal (r = 0.77067; p < 0.00001; y = -0.41060 + 0.0907 x gestational age) an d transverse (r = 0.602; p < 0.00001; y = 0.58567 + 0.01925 x gestatio nal age) diameters of the fetal gall bladder. A significant correlatio n was also found between gall bladder area and gestational age (r = 0. 68 78; p < 0.00001), biparietal diameter (r = 0.72768; p < 0.00001), abdominal circumference (r = 0.71363; p < 0.00001) and femoral length (r = 0.72190; p < 0.00001). In addition, a significant correlation was found between gall bladder circumference and gestational age (r = 0.7 6181; p < 0.00001), biparietal diameter (r = 0.80039; p < 0.00001), ab dominal circumference (r = 0.78030; p < 0.00001) and femoral length (r = 0.79694; p < 0.00001). These results provide normative data of the fetal gall bladder in various dimensions and across gestational age. I n addition, the data offer the potential for prenatal diagnosis of add itional lesions in the extrahepatic biliary duct system.