New Fetal Independent Parameters for Estimating Gestational Age - Placental Thickness and Placental Tapering Angle

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of placental thickness and placental tapering angle with gestational age and fetal growth parameters in normal singleton pregnancies.138 pregnant women with gestational age from 13 to 36 weeks without any fetal or maternal complications were studied by ultrasound in a cross sectional prospective study at a tertiary level hospital in Surat. Ultrasound was performed and composite gestational age was determined by measuring routine fetal biometric parameters. Placental thickness was measured at the level of umbilical cord insertion, from echogenic chorionic plate to placental myometrial interface. Placental tapering angle was measured by drawing one line at placental-myometrial interface and another line at fetal surface of the placenta, and measuring angle between two lines. Relationship of placental thickness and placental tapering angle with gestational age was investigated by Pearsons correlation analysis. Statistical tests were two-tailed with pless than 0.01 to indicate statistical significance. The study showed that placental thickness and placental tapering angle have positive correlation with gestational age.