ULTRASOUND EVALUATION OF FETAL NECK CIRCUMFERENCE FOR ESTIMATING GESTATIONAL AGE IN INDIAN POPULATION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PG RESIDENT MGM MEDICAL COLLEGE,INDORE INDIA

2 Dept of Radiodiagnosis MGM Medical College Indore, India

Abstract

Background: Accurate gestational age (GA) estimation is crucial for antenatal care, especially in India, where early scans are often unavailable. Traditional ultrasound biometry becomes less reliable in late pregnancy due to biological and maternal variation.  Aim: We evaluated the usefulness of fetal neck circumference (NC) as a sonographic marker for estimating gestational age (GA) in the Indian population and to see how it correlates with other standard fetal biometric parameters across 15-40 weeks of gestation. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was done at MGM Medical College, Indore. A total of 400 pregnant women from 15–40 weeks were enrolled after approval. NC was measured on axial scan at the largest neck level using 2D ultrasound, along with standard biometry (BPD, HC, AC, FL). Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to assess the relationship of NC with GA and other parameters. A nomogram was developed for GA prediction from NC. Results: NC showed a strong positive correlation with GA (R² = 0.895, p < 0.001). The regression equation was GA = 0.203 × NC + 2.882. NC also had significant correlation with BPD (r = 0.870), HC (r = 0.863), AC (r = 0.855), and FL (r = 0.835). Comparison with standard dating methods showed strong correlation with dating scan (R² = 0.846), LMP (R² = 0.842), and final GA (R² = 0.896).
Conclusion: NC can serve as a reliable sonographic marker for GA in the second and third trimesters, especially useful where early dating is missed.

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