use of the symphysis-fundus distance chart as a screening test for the diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation

ABSTRACT

A standard chart for the symphysis pubis-uterine fundus [S-F] distance was compared to a single ultrasound measurement of the fetal biparietal diameter [BPD] performed between 32 and 34 weeks, for the diagnosis of small for dates [SFD] and large for dates [LFD] fetuses in 100 women with high risk pregnancies. The weight of the newborn was taken as the reference point. The results showed that the S-F distance was superior to the BPD in the diagnosis of SFD babies [85.71% compared to 57.14%] as well as in the diagnosis of LFD babies [100% compared to 38.46%]. Both methods were equally accurate in diagnosing the appropriate for dates [AFD] fetuses [71.67% and 73.33%, respectively]. Both methods had a similar incidence to false positive results [17% and 18% respectively], but the BPD had a higher incidence of false negative results [20%] compared to the S-F distance method [2%]