Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 7, Issue 7 363-369, Copyright © 1988 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Sonographic estimation of amniotic fluid volume. Subjective assessment versus pocket measurements

R. B. Goldstein and R. A. Filly
Department of Radiology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.

Amniotic fluid volume (AFV) estimation is an important part of routine obstetric sonography. Despite the clinical importance placed upon excessive or diminished AFV in pregnancy, there is little uniformity in the way it is estimated sonographically. We compared AFV estimations obtained using two commonly employed sonographic methods "subjective" visual assessment and amniotic fluid pocket measurements. Estimates obtained using both methods correlated closely. In addition, there was excellent intraobserver and interobserver agreement among estimates obtained using subjective criteria. This supports the belief that experienced observers tend to agree on the sonographic appearance of normal, excessive or decreased AFV. Methods for AFV estimation and potential pitfalls are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. H. Persutte Ultrasonographic Identification of Polyhydramnios: Prenatal Diagnostic Implications in Terms of Aneuploidy, Fetal Chromosomal Anomalies and Pregnancy Outcome Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, March 1, 1992; 8(2): 79 - 85. [Abstract] [PDF]