Prenatal evaluation and obstetrical management of fetuses at risk of developing lung hypoplasia.

The aim of this study was to measure the fetal lung area of normal human fetuses using ultrasound and them to test the predictive values of a nomogram in the identification of fetal lung hypoplasia. A nomogram for ultrasound-measured fetal lung area were constructed from 264 normal fetuses from 17 to 39 weeks of gestation. In 19 cases running the risk of developing lung hypoplasia, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of lung area measurements below the mean -2 SD were 75%, 100%, 94% and 100%, respectively, with total lung area showing a significant relation to the combined lung weight (Y = -1.05 + 2.06 X, r2 = 0.88). These results indicate that lung area measured by ultrasound is a good indicator of lung weight, and this nomogram of lung area may be useful in evaluating lung growth prenatally, as well as in the direct obstetrical management of fetuses at risk of developing lung hypoplasia.