Transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound assessment of embryonic genital tubercle at 8–10+6 weeks of gestation
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Toshiyuki Hata
Abstract
Objectives
To assess embryonic genital tubercle using transvaginal three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound at 8–10+6 weeks of gestation.
Methods
One-hundred and two transvaginal 3D ultrasound scans were performed for first-trimester dating at 8–10+6 weeks of gestation. The genital tubercle angle (GTA) and genital tubercle length (GTL) were measured with a mid-sagittal view of the embryo using the 3D ultrasound multiplanar mode. Intra- and inter-observer agreements regarding GTA and GTL were also assessed with Bland–Altman plots and intra- and inter-correlation coefficients.
Results
There were no significant differences in GTA between male and female embryos at 8, 9, 10 weeks, or 8–10+6 weeks of gestation, respectively. There were also no significant differences in GTL between male and female embryos at 8, 9, 10 weeks, or 8–10+6 weeks of gestation, respectively. However, GTL increased linearly with advancing gestation (r=0.8276, p<0.00001). Mean GTL (SD) values at 8, 9, and 10 weeks were 0.833 mm (0.274), 1.623 mm (0.262), and 2.152 mm (0.420), respectively (p<0.001). Intra- and inter-reproducibilities of GTA and GTL were excellent. The intra- and inter-correlation coefficients of GTA and GTL were 0.964 and 0.995, and 0.996 and 0.9933, respectively.
Conclusions
The genital tubercle could be identified using transvaginal 3D ultrasound at 8–10+6 weeks of gestation. However, sex differentiation could not be performed at this age. The genital tubercle linearly developed with advancing gestation during the mid-first trimester of pregnancy.
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Research ethics: The study was conducted following approval by the Ethics Committee of Miyake Clinic.
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Informed consent: All participants provided informed consent after a full explanation of the aim of the study.
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Author contributions: TH: conception of the work, study design and coordination, supervision of the study, acquisition and validation of the data, analyze and interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript, and drafting the work. TK: study design and coordination, and acquisition and validation of the data, analyze and interpretation of the data, collecting outcomes, and drafting the work. RT: study design and coordination, and acquisition and validation of the data, analyze and interpretation of the data, and drafting the work. YM: interpretation of data for the work, statistical analysis of the data, and revising the work. TM: study design and coordination, interpretation of data for the work, supervision of the study, and revising the work.
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Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: Not applicable.
References
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Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Newborns at risk of COVID-19, the story continues
- Opinion Paper
- Why do women choose home births
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Association between aneuploidy screening analytes and adverse outcomes in twin gestations
- Vaginal matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as a potential early predictor of preterm birth
- Intrapartum pyrexia, cardiotocography traces and histologic chorioamnionitis: a case-control study
- Effect of maternal asthma on fetal pulmonary artery Doppler parameters: a case-control study
- Association of BDNF polymorphism with gestational diabetes mellitus risk: a novel insight into genetic predisposition
- Transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound assessment of embryonic genital tubercle at 8–10+6 weeks of gestation
- Ultrasound prediction of fetal macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Comparative analysis of ultrasonographic fetal lung texture in twin and singleton fetuses
- Association between first-trimester uterine artery Doppler and crown-rump length with growth discordance: does it make a difference
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Evaluating fetal tricuspid and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE and MAPSE) using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) M-mode
- Hepatic arterial buffer response in monochorionic twins with selective fetal growth restriction
- Original Articles – Neonates
- Increases in drug-related infant mortality in the United States
- Factors of poor prognosis in newborns with a prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis in Bogota, Colombia
