Pregnancy Ultrasounds – An Overview
April 18, 2023
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If you’re reading your ultrasound report after an imaging exam, there may be some acronyms and measurements that require explanations. While an ultrasound (sonogram) has a wide range of applications – frequently used to visualize soft tissues – it’s the standard for prenatal screening. Fetal ultrasound reports often consist of a few acronyms that the average person may not recognize. To help you decode the abbreviated language, here are some acronyms you may see in a prenatal ultrasound report with explanations for what exactly they refer to.
EFW stands for Estimated Fetal Weight. This measurement is an estimate of the weight of a fetus based on the size and measurements of various parts of its body, such as the head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length. EFW is expressed in grams or ounces and is one of several methods used to assess fetal growth and development during pregnancy.
OFD stands for Occipital-Frontal Diameter, which is a measurement of the distance between the back of the head and the forehead of the fetus. This measurement is used to assess the growth and development of the fetus’s head, which is an important indicator of overall fetal health and well-being.
BPD – Biparietal Diameter: This is a measurement of the distance between the two sides of the fetus’s head, and is used to assess fetal head growth and development.
FL – Femur Length: This is a measurement of the length of the fetus’s thighbone, and is used to estimate fetal length and assess fetal growth.
HC – Head Circumference: This is a measurement of the circumference of the fetus’s head, and is used to assess fetal head growth and development.
AC – Abdominal Circumference: This is a measurement of the circumference of the fetus’s abdomen, and is used to assess fetal growth and development.
CRL – Crown-Rump Length: This is a measurement of the length of the fetus from the top of its head to the bottom of its torso, and is used to estimate gestational age.
GS – Gestational Sac: This refers to the sac that surrounds and protects the fetus in early pregnancy. The size and shape of the gestational sac can provide important information about the pregnancy and fetal health.
These are some of the most common terms found in ultrasound reports, but there may be others specific to a particular type of ultrasound or a particular medical condition. If you have questions about the terms used in your ultrasound report, be sure to ask your healthcare provider for clarification.
Patients are encouraged to ask their healthcare provider for explanations or clarification if they have any questions about their ultrasound report, but it helps to be prepared.
PocketHealth enables patients to access their sonograms and reports online and offers Report Reader, a feature that helps patients understand some of the most complex terms found in imaging reports, including ultrasounds. It provides in-browser definitions on all devices, with complex terms highlighted and defined using simple language. This way, users don’t have to navigate out of the platform and scour search engines to find credible and accurate information. It’s one way PocketHealth reduces “scanxiety” and simplifies medical imaging records for patients who want to be at the center of their care.
Since medical imaging uses unique and complex language, you can refer to the PocketHealth’s Radiology Terminology index to find definitions for other uncommon terms.
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