DIFFERENCES IN MEASUREMENTS OF THE ATRIA OF THE LATERAL VENTRICLE - DOES GENDER MATTER

Objective: To evaluate possible differences in measurements of the wid th of atria of the lateral cerebral ventricles of male and female fetu ses, Study Design: A prospectively entered database was reviewed to id entify patients undergoing ultrasound examination at >13 weeks between July 1, 1994 and June 30, 1995, Inclusion criteria included identific ation of fetal gender, measurement of the atria, and the absence of fe tal anomalies, Results: The atrial width of the lateral ventricles was statistically greater in male than in female fetuses (7.1 vs. 7.0 mm, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although statistically significant, the diffe rence between genders in the measurement of the ventricular atria is t oo small to be of clinical utility.