Prediction of light-for-gestational age at delivery in twin pregnancies: an evaluation of fetal weight deviation and growth discordance measured by ultrasound

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate and discuss different ultrasound methods widely used, among other things, as predictors for light-for-gestational age (LGA) in twin pregnancies. The methods evaluated and compared as predictors for LGA at birth were: (1) Difference between twins in biparietal diameter; (2) difference in abdominal diameter; (3) the percentage difference in estimated fetal weight between twins; and (4) estimation of the weight deviation from the expected weight during pregnancy. The study comprised 66 twin pregnancies, examined by ultrasound scanning less than 15 days before delivery. Using Relative Operating Characteristic curves (ROC curves) estimated fetal weight deviation was the most sensitive and specific of the methods. It is stressed that fetal discordance is not the appropriate predictor of LGA at birth in twin pregnancies.