Accuracy of Fetal Transcerebellar Diameter in Predicting Gestational Age in Singleton Pregnancies During the Second Trimester: A Cross-Sectional Study in Sudan.

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy dating in the second trimester is particularly crucial for maternal and fetal health in developing countries, such as Sudan, where women may present as late as the second trimester at the first antenatal visit. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of the fetal transcerebellar diameter (TCD) in the prediction of gestational age (GA) in the second trimester and compare it with conventionally used measures.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two obstetric clinics in Khartoum State and Northern State among 300 women with singleton pregnancies who were treated from October to December 2022. Demographic, clinical, and fetal biometry data were obtained, entered into Microsoft Excel, and analyzed via SPSS v26.

Results: The study revealed that 30% of participants received antenatal care for the first time during the second trimester. The mean GA based on the last menstrual period (LMP) was 21.40 weeks (SD ± 2.50). The correlations between LMP-based GA and fetal biometry-based GA were as follows: BPD (r = 0.844), HC (r = 0.840), AC (r = 0.869), and FL (r = 0.861), and TCD exhibited the strongest correlation (r = 0.952).

Conclusion: TCD is the most accurate parameter for dating pregnancies during the second trimester. Incorporating TCD in routine ultrasounds during the second trimester would be beneficial in managing pregnancy, particularly in low-income countries such as Sudan, where access to early antenatal care is limited.