Differences in Measurements of the Atria of the Lateral Ventricle: Does Gender Matter?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate possible differences in measurements of the width of atria of the lateral cerebral ventricles of male and female fetuses. STUDY DESIGN: A prospectively entered database was reviewed to identify patients undergoing ultrasound examination at > 13 weeks between July 1, 1994 and June 30, 1995. Inclusion criteria included identification of fetal gender, measurement of the atria, and the absence of fetal anomalies. RESULTS: The atrial width of the lateral ventricles was statistically greater in male than in female fetuses (7.1 vs. 7.0 mm, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although statistically significant, the difference between genders in the measurement of the ventricular atria is too small to be of clinical utility.