Delayed Bone Age Observed in Fetuses with Symmetrical Intrauterine Growth Retardation Assessed by the Ossification of Selected Bones

摘要

The standard calcification pattern of selected bones was studied to estimate the bone age in fetuses by means of whole body radiographs taken at the postmortem examination. Ten bones were selected as a marker of bone age because their calcification occurred in the gestational period. They consisted of talus, os calcis, ishium, os pubis, sternum, vertebral bodies (coccygeal and 5th sacral), lumbar transverse processes, proximal epiphysis of tibia and distal epiphysis of the femur. The gestational week when each bone started calcification was determined, and we demonstrated the characteristic pattern of calcification of selected bones. The number of calcified bones and gestational week were significantly correlated. Furthermore, the symmetrical intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) group had delayed bone age, but the asymmetrical IUGR group did not. Bone age was moderately delayed in thanatophoric dysplasia, but no delayed bone age was observed in osteogenesis imperfecta type II. In summary, the calcification pattern of the selected bones we reported is useful to assess the maturity of newborns, and may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological state of various diseases.