Discordance and impact factors of estimated fetal weight of twins in normal dichorionic pregnancy / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the difference of intertwin estimated fetal weight (EFW) in normal dichorionic pregnancy and the impact factors. Methods: Prenatal ultrasonic parameters of 550 normal dichorionic twins (1 100 fetuses) were retrospectively analyzed. Fetal weight was estimated based on head circumference, abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter and femur length. The growth discordance ratio of EFW was calculated between the two fetuses. The correlation between the gestational weeks and the discordance ratios was assessed. In addition, whether the gender difference and different fertilization way could be impact factors of EFW discordance was evaluated. Results: No obvious correlation was observed between EFW discordance ratio and gestation age. EFW discordance ratio was skew distribution, with median of 6.65%, interquartile range of 8.92% and the 95th percentiles of 20.81%. There was no statistical significant difference of EFW discordance ratio between gender-identical group and gender-specific group, nor between two groups with different fertilization way (both P>0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound is valuable to obtain EFW in dichorionic twins. EFW discordance ratio can be used as a relatively date-independent index in evaluation of the growth of dichorionic twins.