Normal Fetal Growth and Development

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

PURPOSE: To explain which growth and development parameters are most useful when faced with a perinatal autopsy and identify factors complicating the use of these parameters. BACKGROUND: Growth and development charts seem to be straightforward, but when faced with a perinatal autopsy, they may be confusing or misleading. Autopsy weight and measurement charts are based on much smaller groups of individuals than clinical charts. Perinatal postmortem growth charts are confounded by maceration, the small numbers of subjects to define normal, and population differences. Interpretation of growth and development parameters when performing a perinatal autopsy is complicated by the interpretation of deviations from expected or "normal" as defined by the charts. RESULTS: This article provides an analysis of growth and development charts used in perinatal examinations and gives guidance about which charts are the most robust. Weights, measurements, and aspects of development will be described and distilled into those most relevant to the general pathologist. CONCLUSION: Growth and development charts are important when performing a perinatal autopsy to define what is normal versus pathologic, and a distillation of the key points with review of the literature is central to using them.