MATHEMATICAL-MODELING OF FETAL ORGAN GROWTH USING THE ROSSAVIK GROWTH-MODEL .3. CARDIAC VENTRICLE

Growth of the fetal cardiac ventricle has been monitored by total card iac diameter (TCD), left ventricular systolic (LVSD) and diastolic dia meter (LVDD), right ventricular systolic (RVSD) and diastolic diameter (RVDD), left ventricular width (LVW), interventricular septal width ( IVSW), and right ventricular width (RVW) from 19 to 39 weeks, menstrua l age, in 114 normal Japanese fetuses. Growth curves for these paramet ers have been determined using a Rossavik growth model [P = c(t)(k)+s( t)]. R(2) values of 89.7, 58.0, 65.3, 77.9, 80.3, 31.1, 30.1, and 26.9 were obtained for TCD, LVSD, LVDD, RVSD, RVDD, LVW, IVSW, and RVW, re spectively. Variability analysis indicated a progressive increase in v ariability with fetal age for these eight parameters. Variability data were used with the growth curve models to determine standard curves f or these parameters. These standard curves provide a superior means fo r evaluating the normal fetal cardiac growth in the fetus and for iden tifying congenital heart anomalies in utero.