New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studies

Abstract Given the decline in birthweights over the past 30 years in Japan and advancements in ultrasound technology, this study aimed to establish new reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japan and to compare them with international and Asian studies. We conducted a cross-sectional pro...

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Main Authors: Sumito Nagasaki, Keisuke Ishii, Yoshitaka Murakami, Anna Tsutsui, Nobuhiro Hidaka, Hironori Takahashi, Kiyotake Ichizuka, Kei Miyakoshi, Kiyonori Miura, Susumu Miyashita, Yoshimasa Kamei, Masahiko Nakata, Study Group on New Reference Values for Fetal Biometry in Japan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14508-9
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author Sumito Nagasaki
Keisuke Ishii
Yoshitaka Murakami
Anna Tsutsui
Nobuhiro Hidaka
Hironori Takahashi
Kiyotake Ichizuka
Kei Miyakoshi
Kiyonori Miura
Susumu Miyashita
Yoshimasa Kamei
Masahiko Nakata
Study Group on New Reference Values for Fetal Biometry in Japan
author_facet Sumito Nagasaki
Keisuke Ishii
Yoshitaka Murakami
Anna Tsutsui
Nobuhiro Hidaka
Hironori Takahashi
Kiyotake Ichizuka
Kei Miyakoshi
Kiyonori Miura
Susumu Miyashita
Yoshimasa Kamei
Masahiko Nakata
Study Group on New Reference Values for Fetal Biometry in Japan
author_sort Sumito Nagasaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Given the decline in birthweights over the past 30 years in Japan and advancements in ultrasound technology, this study aimed to establish new reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japan and to compare them with international and Asian studies. We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study involving singleton pregnancies who received prenatal checkups at obstetric facilities across Japan. During routine prenatal care, ultrasound measurements—biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL)—were recorded. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) was calculated using both the Shinozuka formula, commonly used in Japan, and the Hadlock-3 formula, widely used internationally. Using the collected data, we developed gestational-age-specific reference values for BPD, HC, AC, FL, and EFW by applying best-fitted fractional polynomial regression, and compared them with existing international standards and reference values from other Asian countries. The mean EFW calculated by the Hadlock formula in this study tended to be smaller than that reported in other international studies, and BPD, HC, AC, and FL were also generally smaller than those observed in other Asian references. These findings indicate that fetal biometry values in the Japanese population are smaller not only than international standards but also compared with those from other Asian countries, and suggest that these population-specific data may contribute to improving the accuracy of fetal growth assessment in Japan and other parts of Asia.
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spelling doaj-art-b8fd18882ed140e9a2cbabc02c3dbae52025-08-24T11:27:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-14508-9New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studiesSumito Nagasaki0Keisuke Ishii1Yoshitaka Murakami2Anna Tsutsui3Nobuhiro Hidaka4Hironori Takahashi5Kiyotake Ichizuka6Kei Miyakoshi7Kiyonori Miura8Susumu Miyashita9Yoshimasa Kamei10Masahiko Nakata11Study Group on New Reference Values for Fetal Biometry in JapanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toho University Omori Medical CenterDepartment of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Osaka Women’s and Children’s HospitalDepartment of Medical Statistics, Toho UniversityDepartment of Medical Statistics, Toho UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics, Fukuoka Children’s HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa Medical University Northern Yokohama HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Catholic HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesDepartment of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Miyagi Children’s HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical University HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toho University Omori Medical CenterAbstract Given the decline in birthweights over the past 30 years in Japan and advancements in ultrasound technology, this study aimed to establish new reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japan and to compare them with international and Asian studies. We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study involving singleton pregnancies who received prenatal checkups at obstetric facilities across Japan. During routine prenatal care, ultrasound measurements—biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL)—were recorded. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) was calculated using both the Shinozuka formula, commonly used in Japan, and the Hadlock-3 formula, widely used internationally. Using the collected data, we developed gestational-age-specific reference values for BPD, HC, AC, FL, and EFW by applying best-fitted fractional polynomial regression, and compared them with existing international standards and reference values from other Asian countries. The mean EFW calculated by the Hadlock formula in this study tended to be smaller than that reported in other international studies, and BPD, HC, AC, and FL were also generally smaller than those observed in other Asian references. These findings indicate that fetal biometry values in the Japanese population are smaller not only than international standards but also compared with those from other Asian countries, and suggest that these population-specific data may contribute to improving the accuracy of fetal growth assessment in Japan and other parts of Asia.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14508-9Estimated fetal weightReference valuesUltrasonographyJapanese populationFetal Biometry
spellingShingle Sumito Nagasaki
Keisuke Ishii
Yoshitaka Murakami
Anna Tsutsui
Nobuhiro Hidaka
Hironori Takahashi
Kiyotake Ichizuka
Kei Miyakoshi
Kiyonori Miura
Susumu Miyashita
Yoshimasa Kamei
Masahiko Nakata
Study Group on New Reference Values for Fetal Biometry in Japan
New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studies
Scientific Reports
Estimated fetal weight
Reference values
Ultrasonography
Japanese population
Fetal Biometry
title New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studies
title_full New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studies
title_fullStr New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studies
title_full_unstemmed New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studies
title_short New reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in Japanese population and comparison with other studies
title_sort new reference values for ultrasound fetal biometry in japanese population and comparison with other studies
topic Estimated fetal weight
Reference values
Ultrasonography
Japanese population
Fetal Biometry
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14508-9
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