Comparison of clinical versus ultrasound estimation of fetal weight

A prospective study was conducted of the accuracy of fetal weight estimatio n comparing clinical and ultrasound estimation with actual birth weight in 200 Iranian pregnant women. The results showed that there was statistically significant difference between clinical estimate of fetal weight and actua l birth weight, as well as between ultrasound estimation and actual birth w eight. The mean error of clinical estimation was 101 g, or 32 g/kg, for a 3 .2% error. The error of ultrasound in the same population was 141 g, or 45 g/kg, for a 4.5% error. Analysis of these data revealed statistically signi ficant difference between the mean error of clinical estimation and ultraso und estimation of fetal weight. Our study indicates that the mean clinical estimate of fetal weight is equal to ultrasound for the estimation of fetal weight in our population. This has important implications for developing c ountries where there is a lack of technologically advanced ultrasound machi nes capable of performing sophisticated functions like fetal weight estimat ion.