USE OF THE TRANSVERSE CEREBELLAR DIAMETER ABDOMINAL CIRCUMFERENCE RATIO IN PREGNANCIES AT RISK FOR INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the trans verse cerebellar diameter/abdominal circumference ratio to identify gr owth-retarded fetuses. Of the cases analyzed, 48 of 87 (55%) were grow th retarded by birth weight. The transverse cerebellar diameter/abdomi nal circumference ratio identified growth retardation with a sensitivi ty of 71%, specificity of 77%, positive predictive value of 79%, and n egative predictive value of 68%. Fourteen growth-retarded fetuses were missed by the ratio; however, 57% of the missed cases were severely g rowth retarded. The transverse cerebellar diameter/abdominal circumfer ence ratio can be useful for the assessment of fetal growth retardatio n; however, the ratio may be normal in cases of severe fetal growth re tardation. (C) 1994 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.