Ultrasound and the differences in measurement and aaaaaaaaaargh

[emkana]

Our baby (I'm 27 weeks) has enlarged ventricles of the brain. Basically anything over 10mm is not normal, with measurements above 15 mm being really worrying. The closer to 10 mm the better.

We've had four scans now and the measurements have come back as anything between 11 and 14 mm.

It drives me crazy that they are so inconsistent! It seems to depend so much on who is measuring, but how do you know who probably got it right? The consultant? The sonographer?

AAAAAAaarg!!!!!!!

Anyone?

difficult one, i suppose i would be inclined to trust the consultants measurements.

How far apart have the scans been Emkana? Could it be that the baby is growing so that could explain the differences in measurements.

The consultant did a scan for me about 2 weeks ago. This was less than a week after the sonographer had done another one. The consultant explained that the results can vary between medical staff because the measurements involved are so tiny that it's very difficult to be precise. The baby is also likely to have moved since the previous scan. He said that even having the same sonographer carry out each scan is no guarantee that the measurements will be precise.

My scan was to measure the baby's growth. In the end the consultant decided to concentrate instead on fluid levels etc as he said that if his results were out by even a mm or two then it could make a big difference to the overall result IYSWIM.

I've also heard that nuchal fold measurements vary so much between different sonographers and even machinery. I often wonder if this only leads to more worry than is necessary.

I had another scan today - the second in 48 hours.

Out of 7 measurements not two were the same, not even close.

So frustrating.
On the one hand I know I should trust the consultant that he got it right, what if he did make a mistake then it could mean the difference between a problem and possibly not a problem...

I would go with the consultants measurements - what did he measure the ventricles to be?

ds's were borderline at 20 weeks (10mm I think?) and I was re scanned repeatedly and they were felt to be within normal limits, but I was still so worried. I know it doesn't compare to what you are going through

Between 14 and 15 mm

He did say himself that you can get more "reassuring" measurements depending on where exactly you measure.
But which one is the right one???

The thing is that for the amount of amniotic fluid he got 24.4 cm, which is above normal and could be a sign for a problem, whereas on Wednesday the measurement for that was 20.4 cm. That's a huge difference, isn't it???

yes it is

what about the other measurements, BPD & HC, are they within normal limits?

And AC, I seem to remember that being connected to enlarged ventricles, as if there is fluid on the brain, it has no where to drain, I think. Is AC normal?

What did they say about femur length, did they give any ideas as to what that might indicate?

It must be so, so frustrating for you

BPD upper end of normal, HC very large (above normal)- but then in our family we all have large heads.
AC normal

Femur length - that's the thing, the consultant couldn't say what it might mean, just the fact that it's too short in combination with the amniotic fluid index and the ventricles he feels "anxious" that there's a problem, but he can't be any more precise than that.

don't know what to say, other than sending you lots of good luck vibes & (((hugs)))