Research Article
Place of ultrasound and radiography in obstetrics.
Br Med J 1978; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.6117.882 (Published 08 April 1978) Cite this as: Br Med J 1978;1:882
- H B Meire,
- P Farrant,
- R A Wilkins
Abstract
In the two years after an ultrasound service was introduced at this hospital obstetric referrals for abdominal radiography decreased by over 55%. Most of these were for estimation of fetal maturity. Out of 349 such patients subjected to radiography in 1976, 176 had already been examined by ultrasound; in only four did radiography appear to influence management. We believe that if a satisfactory ultrasound scan is obtained before 30 weeks of gestation subsequent radiological estimation of fetal maturity is unjustified. Radiography may still be necessary, however, for diagnosing fetal abnormalities.