Accuracy and reliability of ultrasound estimation of fetal weight in women with a singleton term pregnancy

Background: Prenatal estimation of birth-weight is of utmost importance to predict the mode of delivery. This is also an important parameter of antenatal care. This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of estimated fetal weight by ultrasound, compared with actual birth weight.Methods: This was a prospective and comparative study comprising 110 pregnant women at term. Patients who had their sonography done within 7 days from date of delivery were included. Fetal weight was estimated by Hadlock 2 formula, the software of which was preinstalled in ultrasound-machine. The estimated fetal weight was compared to the post-delivery birth-weight. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was used and the accuracy of sonographic fetal weight estimation was evaluated using mean error, mean absolute error, mean percentage error, mean absolute percentage error and proportion of estimates within 10% of actual birth weight.Results: Mean estimated and actual birth weights were 3120.8±349.4 gm and 3088.2±404.5 g respectively. There was strong positive correlation between estimated fetal weight and actual birth weight (r = 0.58, p<0.001). The mean percentage error and mean absolute percentage error of ultrasound fetal weight estimations were 1.96±11.8% and 8.7±8.2% respectively. The percentage of estimates within ±10% of the actual birth weight was found to be 67.3%. In 23% of the cases, ultrasound overestimated the birth weight. In 13% of the cases, ultrasound underestimated the birth weight.Conclusions: There was strong positive correlation between actual and sonographically estimated fetal weight. So, ultrasonography can be considered as useful tool for estimating the fetal weight for improving the perinatal outcome

In response to the article "Computed tomography features of pulmonary nocardiosis in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients" : Pol J Radiol, 2015; 80: 13-17

The article by Mehrian P. et al. [1] on CT features of pulmonary nocardiosis in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients was quite informative and made an interesting reading

Congenital epulis : a rare benign jaw tumour in a 2-day-old male baby

BACKGROUND: Congenital epulis is a rare benign jaw tumor. It is a reactive or degenerative lesion having a mesenchymal origin; presenting as an obvious mass arising from the gingival mucosa of the maxilla or mandible, presenting in neonates. Its etiology, histopathogenesis and natural history are still not well established. It is seen usually in the female gender and mostly involves the maxillary alveolar ridge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report a case of a 2.7 kg male baby born with growth on his mandibular ridge which was excised and was proved to be epulis on histopathology. RESULTS: Congenital epulis is often misdiagnosed before surgery because of its rarity and a lack of awareness of the condition by clinicians. It is important for the attending pediatricians, pediatric surgeon to be aware of this rare but benign congenital tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital epulis is often misdiagnosed before surgery because of its rarity and a lack of awareness of the condition by clinicians. As the clinical presentation of this congenital tumor can be distressing due to its size and aggressive appearance, it is important for the attending pediatricians, pediatric surgeon to be aware of this rare but benign congenital tumor

The Arco-Íris between Goa and São Paulo: Joana's Life Narrative

In this narrative, Shelly Bhoil, Indian poet and scholar, resident in São Paulo, Brazil, tells the story of another long-time Indian resident in São Paulo, Joana Juliana Pinto Mascarenhas