ABSTRACT
Introduction: Several parameters are used for the estimation of gestational age by ultrasonography. Measurementand demonstration of fetal cerebellum is a new and unique parameter of fetal brain growth and also useful forassessment of gestational age. The cerebellum is part of hindbrain and lies in posterior cranial fossa. In theembryo it appears at the end of 5th week of intrauterine life.Aim: 1. To measure and correlate transvrerse cerebellar diameter (TCD) with fetal gestational age (GA) and deriveregression equation. 2. To evaluate cerebellar growth pattern by ultrasonographic cerebellar grading.Material and Methods: This prospective study was carried out on 100 pregnant women between12-40 weeks ofpregnancy attending the R.C.S.M. Govt. Medical College Kolhapur for routine ultrasound examination,Transversecerebellar diameter was measured and cereballar grading was done by ultrasongraphically.Results: We observed a linear correlation between TCD and GA (correlation coefficients-r=0.995, p=0.000 ) Fetalcerebella were found to be 61,15 and 24% cases as grade I,II and III respectively.The grade changed from I to IIIwith advancing gestational age. The median gestational age and TCD were 18.42 weeks and 1.9cm for grade I,and 28.42 weeks and 3.3cm for grade II and 35.99 weeks and 4.2cm for grade III.Conclusion: Regression analysis indicated a strong relationship between TCD and gestational age indicating TCDcan be used as reliable parameter for estimation of gestational age.Its grading can be used in evaluation ofdevelopment of fetus.