Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 3, Issue 7 299-308, Copyright © 1984 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Total uterine volume: a new graph and its clinical applications
A. B. Kurtz, R. J. Kurtz, M. D. Rifkin, M. E. Pasto, C. Cole-Beuglet, O. H. Baltarowich, R. J. Wapner, J. Tsatalis and B. B. Goldberg
The prolate ellipse formula has been shown to be inaccurate and
inconsistent in the calculation of total uterine volume. The stepped
area-to-volume technique has proven to be both accurate and consistent and
provides a value equal to the true uterine volume. When these true volumes
were plotted on previously published graphs of total uterine volume derived
from the prolate ellipse formula, the graphs were found to be inaccurate.
New graphs based on normal values have been constructed, comparing total
uterine volume with both biparietal diameter and average gestational age.
When 26 abnormal values were plotted on the total uterine volume versus
biparietal diameter graph, almost all fell outside the 90 per cent
confidence limits. Seven of the abnormal value were from fetuses found to
have growth retardation. Six of these cases, including two not appreciated
either clinically or ultrasonographically, were detected by this method.
The stepped area-to-volume technique should allow reconsideration of the
total uterine volume concept and aid in the detection of the subtle changes
in uterine size.
