Study of the Correlation between Gestational Age and Transverse Cerebellar Diameter Using Ultrasonography

Abstract

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which aimed to study the correlation between gestational age in weeks and transverse cerebellar diameter in millimeters. The study was carried out in Turkish Hospital, Khartoum state - Sudan, from October 2018 to March 2019. 100 gravid women were included in the study their ages from 16 to 41 between 15-40 weeks of gestation who attended for serial follow up ultrasound scan by ( Samsung ultrasound machine SONOACE X6) and using curve linear transducer set at 3.5 MHZ. Transabdominal scanning was performed for all cases to evaluate transverse cerebellar diameter, biparietal diameter, head circumference and femur length . The expected gestational ages of the singleton fetuses were between 15-40 weeks (mean 29.34 ± 6.76) and mean value of trans-cerebellum diameter was (31.39 ± 8.16)mm , in which 13 cases were between 15-20 weeks, 16 cases between 21-25 weeks, and 18 cases between 26-30 weeks, 33 cases were between 31-35 weeks and 20 cases were between 36-40 weeks, which correspond to 13%, 16%, 18%, 33% and 20% respectively. The study showed that, there was strong positive linear correlation between transverse cerebellar diameter and gestational age of biparietal diameter, head circumference and femur length in which the correlation was 0.875, 0.876, 0.872 respectively at (p<0.01).Also, the study showed strong positive correlation between the transverse cerebellar diameter in millimeters and the expected gestational age in weeks. Regression analysis indicates a significant relationship between transverse cerebellar diameter and gestational age; in which the correlation was R=0.848 at p <0.01 and R square =0.719; thus it can be used as a predictor for estimating the gestational age by this regression equation: GA=0.701*TCD+7.31. The study concluded that, the trans-cerebellum diameter can be used as routine measurement in estimation of the gestational age in the second and third trimester.