Original Article

Prediction of fetal macrosomia using sonographically measured abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness

  1. Boris M. Petrikovsky MD, PhD1,*,
  2. Catherine Oleschuk RDMS2,
  3. Martin Lesser PhD3,
  4. Natalie Gelertner MD1,
  5. Beth Gross MD2

Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0096(199709)25:7<378::AID-JCU5>3.0.CO;2-7

Issue

Journal of Clinical Ultrasound

Journal of Clinical Ultrasound

Volume 25, Issue 7, pages 378–382, September 1997

Additional Information

How to Cite

Petrikovsky, B. M., Oleschuk, C., Lesser, M., Gelertner, N. and Gross, B. (1997), Prediction of fetal macrosomia using sonographically measured abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness. Journal of Clinical Ultrasound, 25: 378–382. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0096(199709)25:7<378::AID-JCU5>3.0.CO;2-7

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Shore University Hospital—New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York

  2. 2

    Department of Radiology, North Shore University Hospital—New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York

  3. 3

    Department of Research and Biost atistics, North Shore University Hospital—New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York

*North shore University Hospital, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 DEC 1998
  2. Article first published online: 6 DEC 1998
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 5 MAR 1997
  4. Manuscript Received: 12 FEB 1996

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Keywords:

  • abdominal subcutaneous fat line;
  • fetal macrosomia

Abstract

Purpose

We assessed the usefulness of sonographic measurement of abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness in predicting fetal macrosomia (weight > 4,000 g).

Methods

Abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness was measured sonographically in 133 term fetuses. All studied fetuses were delivered within 72 hours after the measurements were taken.

Results

One hundred thirteen fetuses were normal size, and 20 were macrosomic. The fetal abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness ranged between 3 and 18 mm in all fetuses, with a mean measurement of 8.4 ± 2.7 mm (standard deviation). The mean tissue thickness differed significantly between normal and macrosomic fetuses (7.0 mm versus 12.4 mm, respectively; p < 0.0001). There was a significant positive correlation between the abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness and the birth weight (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001). The negative predictive value for a range of cut-off points between 8 and 13 mm varied between 84.3% and 100% (for prevalence rates of macrosomia of 5–25%). However, the positive predictive value was less than 50% for cut-off values below 11 mm.

Conclusions

Sonographic measurement of the subcutaneous tissue thickness of the fetal abdomen is useful for ruling out macrosomia. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound25: 378–382, 1997.

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