Autopsy-Based Growth Charts May under-Detect Fetal Growth Restriction at Autopsy.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Kim MJ; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.; Hutcheon JA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.; Lee AF; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.; Liauw J; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
- Source
- Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101230972 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1551-3823 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15513815 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Fetal Pediatr Pathol Subsets: MEDLINE
- Subject
- Language
- English
Background: Accurate identification of fetal growth restriction in fetal autopsy is critical for assessing causes of death. We examined the impact of using a chart derived from ultrasound measurements of healthy fetuses (World Health Organization fetal growth chart) versus a chart commonly used by pathologists (Archie et al.) derived from fetal autopsy-based populations in diagnosing small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth in perinatal deaths. Study Design: We examined perinatal deaths that underwent autopsy at BC Women's Hospital, 2015-2021. Weight centiles were assigned using the ultrasound-based fetal growth chart for birthweight and autopsy-based growth chart for autopsy weight. Results: Among 352 fetuses, 30% were SGA based on the ultrasound-based fetal growth chart versus 17% using the autopsy-based growth chart ( p < 0.001). Weight centiles were lower when using the ultrasound-based versus autopsy-based growth chart (median difference of 9 centiles [IQR 2, 20]). Conclusions: Autopsy-based growth charts may under-classify SGA status compared to ultrasound-based fetal growth charts.