Foetal Kidney Length as a Criterion for Gestational Age Estimation

Abstract

Gestational Age (GA) is important because it helps guide prenatal care. The foetus plays a pivotal role in assessing its progress and establishing the anticipated delivery date. As GA increases, standard biometric markers like biparietal diameter, head circumference, and foetal length become less accurate, making accurate determination of Foetal Gestational Age (FGA) a significant barrier for patient care. The accuracy of Foetal Kidney Length (FKL) in predicting FGA in the third trimester has been established in several populations. The growth of foetal kidneys is linear with GA, and they are easily identifiable around 18 weeks, following the mid-trimester. The present paper discusses various related research, including the relationship between GA and the length of the foetal kidney.