New measurement indicator of ultrasound assessment of the fetal pancreas based on anatomical landmarks and its application to fetuses with gestational diabetes mellitus

Ruibi Liao; Zejian Zhang; Yuxia Zhang; Yuanfeng Lin; Rongsen Chen; Lijun Wang; Huohu Zhong; Guorong Lyu

doi:10.1515/jpm-2024-0260

Article

New measurement indicator of ultrasound assessment of the fetal pancreas based on anatomical landmarks and its application to fetuses with gestational diabetes mellitus

Ruibi Liao , Zejian Zhang , Yuxia Zhang , Yuanfeng Lin , Rongsen Chen , Lijun Wang , Huohu Zhong and Guorong Lyu

Published/Copyright: October 7, 2024

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From the journal Journal of Perinatal Medicine Volume 52 Issue 9

Abstract

Objectives

To assess the best method for measuring the fetal pancreas, provide nomograms and evaluate the effect of GDM on it.

Methods

A total of 271 singleton fetuses (17–36 weeks) were included in this study. Measurements of pancreatic parameters established reference ranges. Repeatability and consistency analyzed. GDM impact on fetal pancreatic growth assessed.

Results

Measurements of fetal pancreatic parameters fell within the 95 % confidence interval when performed by the same or different physicians. Pancreatic midline longitudinal axis demonstrated the best intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and follow by the pancreatic circumference. The successful display rate and measured parameters of the integral fetal pancreas achieved 90.3 %. Pancreatic midline longitudinal axis and circumference increased with gestational age, with significant differences observed among fetuses at different gestational ages (F=2060 and F=2264, p<0.05). Pancreatic midline longitudinal axis and circumference in normal fetuses from 17 to 36 weeks of gestation were positively correlated with gestational age and abdominal circumference. Poorly controlled GDM fetuses exhibited significantly larger pancreatic midline longitudinal axis and circumference compared to the normal group fetuses (Z-values were −3.82 and −3.77, both p<0.01), while no significant differences were found between well-controlled GDM group fetuses and normal group fetuses (Z-values were −0.59 and −0.042, both p>0.05).

Conclusions

Ultrasound method using anatomical landmarks to measure the fetal pancreatic midline longitudinal axis and circumference is reliable. Pancreatic measurements increase with gestational age. Poorly controlled gestational diabetes can lead to enlargement of the fetal pancreas.

Keywords: ultrasound; fetuses; pancreas; gestational diabetes mellitus

Corresponding author: Guorong Lyu, Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 950 Donghai Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City 362000, Fujian Province, China; and Department of Clinical Medicine, Quanzhou Medical College, 2 Anji Road, Luojiang District, Quanzhou, China, E-mail: lgr_feus@sina.com

Research ethics: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Anxi County Maternal and Child Health Hospital (Protocol No.: Anxi W&C Hospital 2023-1-8) and performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study, or their legal guardians or wards.
Author contributions: Guorong Lyu: Conceptualization; Ruibi,Liao: Methodology; Zejian Zhang: Validation; Yuxia Zhang: Formal analysis; Yuanfeng Lin: Investigation; Rongsen Chen: Resources; Lijun Wang: Data Curation; Ruibi,Liao: Writing - Original Draft; Guorong Lyu and Huohu Zhong：Writing - Review & Editing; Guorong Lyu: Visualization; Ruibi Liao: Supervision, Project administration and Funding acquisition. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interests: All other authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Received: 2024-06-06

Accepted: 2024-09-05

Published Online: 2024-10-07

Published in Print: 2024-11-26

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2024-0260

Keywords for this article

ultrasound; fetuses; pancreas; gestational diabetes mellitus