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Ultrasonographic normograms of the fetal chin and filtrum during pregnancy
Author(s) -
Jaffa A. J.,
Wolman I.,
HarToov J.,
Fait G.,
Amster R.,
Lessing J. B.,
Gull I.,
Jaffa A. J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2001.abs28-38.x
Subject(s) - chin , medicine , fetus , gestation , pregnancy , gestational age , second trimester , orthodontics , anatomy , obstetrics , biology , genetics
Abnormal sizes of the chin and of the filtrum or their proportions are morphological features in certain syndromes. Both chin and filtrum can be visualized and measured from the early second trimester until term. As of today there are no normograms of the chin and of the filtrum during pregnancy, and dysmorphism is evaluated only by subjective criteria. Purpose: To establish normograms of the fetal chin and filtrum. Methods: We studied cross‐sectioned the size of the chin and length of the filtrum in 153 fetuses from the 13th to the 42nd week of gestation. The chin was measured from the lower lip to the skin under the mandibular edge. The filtrum was measured from the nose to the upper lip. Results: The growth normograms for the chin was best described by the regression equation: Y = − 9.799 + 1.312 X − 0.013 × 2; R 2 = 0.87 ( Y = chin size in mm, X = gestational week). The growth normograms for the filtrum was best described by the regression equation: Y = − 2.672 + 0.477X − 0.005 × 2, R 2 = 0.82 ( Y = filtrum size in mm, X = gestational week). The ratio chin/filtrum tends to increase from 2 at the beginning of the second trimester to 2.8 at term. Conclusions: We present the first normograms of fetal chin and filtrum along the pregnancy. One of the fetuses was found to have micrognatia at 32 weeks and both his chin and filtrum were abnormal. We used the normograms to evaluate another two past cases of face dysmorphism, which were evaluated by subjective criteria and found abnormal chin and filtrum sizes. These normograms can be used in consulting genetic disorders.