EVALUATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE BY MEASUREMENT OF PLACENTAL THICKNESS ON USG IN SECOND AND THIRD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluation of gestational age by measurement of placental thickness with ultrasonography in second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in department of obstetrics and gynecology on 200 pregnant women  in second and third trimester  with  singleton live fetus . All women were subjected to USG for estimation of gestational age by placental thickness (measured at the level of umbilical cord insertion).

Results: Mean age was 24.5±3.18yrs. Mean Placental thickness increase linearly with gestational age till 33 week thereafter decreases marginally from 34 to 40 weeks of gestation.strong correlation (r=0.969,p<0.0001) with gestational age. Linear regression analysis yielded mathematical equation for calculation of gestational age in second and third trimester as Y(Gestational Age) = 1.0573×placental thickness -1.1834, R²=0.9391

Conclusion: Placental thickness on USG seems to be good parameter for calculation of gestational age of fetus in second and third  trimester specially 13 to 33 weeks of gestation .

Keywords: Ultrasonography (USG), Placental thickness, Gestation age.