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What Causes The Extreme Wide Range Between BPD And HC?
Two ultrasound scans have shown discrepancies in BPD and HC at 32.5 and now at 33 weeks. First scan showed BPD at 1 percentile while HC was at 75 percentile. Second scan still showed BPD at 1 and now HC at 50 (within 4 days apart). All prior scans were normal (including the detailed U/S at 20 weeks) and measurements were in synch with one another. The huge variant is of concern all of a sudden. Yes, my baby is breech but the huge variant is still puzzling. I ve read about breech head , but this is still an extremely wide range between BPD and HC.
Wed, 22 Oct 2014
I understand your concern and will do my best to answer your question.
I've delivered over 5,000 babies and I read all the ultrasounds for our practice. You aren't alone, I've seen this before and I think I can put your mind at ease.
I'm simplifying a bit but BPD is the linear measurement from ear to ear, HC is the circumference of the baby's head. A short BPD with a normal HC implies a finding of dolichocephaly. Dolichocephaly is much more common in breech babies. The baseline, 'normal' BPD measurements are skewed by the fact that most of those measurements are from cephalic or 'head down' babies. There is very little research about what is the normal BPD in a baby that is breech.
For cephalic babies (head down) a short BPD can mean the baby is affected with premature closure of the sagittal sutures (one of the soft spots that separates the skull bones). For breech babies it can be a normal harmless finding but the pediatrician should know and they will examine the baby very carefully after birth. If it is a sign of craniosynostosis (and it probably isn't, remember the baby is breech), the surgery to fix it is very effective and straightforward. One of my best friends children had synostosis, had it fixed early and is now flourishing in a very good college.
I hope that helped and best of luck
I've delivered over 5,000 babies and I read all the ultrasounds for our practice. You aren't alone, I've seen this before and I think I can put your mind at ease.
I'm simplifying a bit but BPD is the linear measurement from ear to ear, HC is the circumference of the baby's head. A short BPD with a normal HC implies a finding of dolichocephaly. Dolichocephaly is much more common in breech babies. The baseline, 'normal' BPD measurements are skewed by the fact that most of those measurements are from cephalic or 'head down' babies. There is very little research about what is the normal BPD in a baby that is breech.
For cephalic babies (head down) a short BPD can mean the baby is affected with premature closure of the sagittal sutures (one of the soft spots that separates the skull bones). For breech babies it can be a normal harmless finding but the pediatrician should know and they will examine the baby very carefully after birth. If it is a sign of craniosynostosis (and it probably isn't, remember the baby is breech), the surgery to fix it is very effective and straightforward. One of my best friends children had synostosis, had it fixed early and is now flourishing in a very good college.
I hope that helped and best of luck
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