Evaluation of the accuracy of the Hadlock formula in ultrasound estimation of fetal weight: an application of ICT in obstetrics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51247/st.v8iS1.583Keywords:
students; competencies; teachers; education; evaluation.Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the Hadlock formula for estimating fetal weight by ultrasound in pregnant women seen at Clínica Ibarra during 2022 and 2023. A quantitative observational design with linear regression analysis was used to compare ultrasound estimates with actual birth weights. The sample included pregnant women of varying gestational ages, allowing evaluation of the method's efficacy in different clinical settings. The results indicated a significant correlation between estimated fetal weight and neonatal weight, validating the method's reliability. Furthermore, Bland-Altman analysis showed adequate concordance between estimates and birth weights, with a clinically acceptable margin of error. Factors such as gestational age and individual variations that influenced the accuracy of the estimates were identified. Despite slight discrepancies in some cases, the Hadlock formula proved to be a reliable tool for monitoring fetal growth. Its continued use in clinical practice is recommended due to its effectiveness and ease of application. It is also suggested that evaluations be supplemented with other ultrasound and clinical parameters to minimize errors in complex situations and improve obstetric care.
Downloads
References
Athiel, Y., Defrance, M., Noble, P., Girault, A., Pannier, E., Tsatsaris, V., & Grangé, G. (2025). Comparative evaluation of two simulation technologies for obstetric ultrasound trainees’ assessment. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 306, 81-86. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301211525000144
Bekele, D., Gudu, W., Wondafrash, M., Abdosh, A. A., & Sium, A. F. (2024). Utilization of third-trimester fetal transcerebellar diameter measurement for gestational age estimation: a comparative study using Bland-Altman analysis. AJOG Global Reports, 4(1), 100307. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666577824000017
Bekele, S., Assefa, N., Tadesse, A. W., & Ferede, T. (2024). Accuracy of ultrasound fetal weight estimation using Hadlock formula in late pregnancy: A Bland-Altman analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 1-8.
Bland, J. M., & Altman, D. G. (1986). Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. The Lancet, 327(8476), 307-310.
Bustamante, P. P. R., Goyes, M. C. M., Moreno, J. A. C., & Torres, R. A. B. (2021). Importancia de la ecografía obstétrica para la valoración y seguimiento del desarrollo embrionario. Dominio de Las Ciencias, 7(4), 970-981. https://dominiodelasciencias.com/ojs/index.php/es/article/view/2141/4540
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Fetal Biometry: Measurements, Normal Values & Accuracy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/25087-fetal-biometry
Cloudnine Hospitals. (2024). The Importance of Ultrasound in Obstetrics And Gynaecology. https://www.cloudninecare.com/blog/ultrasound-in-obstetrics-and-gynaecology
Espinoza-Freire, E. E. (2018). Gestión del conocimiento mediado por tic en la Universidad Técnica de Machala. Fides Et Ratio, 16(16), ág-199.
Fernández, N. P., Montero, C. D. F., Rodríguez, I. G., Albalat, Y. C., Lozano, J. S., & Calvo, M. O. (2020). Correlaciones de biomarcadores del primer trimestre con el peso fetal y con el peso materno en embarazadas con diabetes gestacional. Revista argentina de endocrinología y metabolismo, 57(4), 11-20. https://www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/raem/v57n4/1851-3034-raem-57-04-11.pdf
Fernández, M. J., et al. (2020). Manual de Obstetricia y Ginecología. McGraw-Hill Interamericana.
Fetal Medicine Foundation. (2024). Fetal growth assessment. https://fetalmedicine.org/research/assess/growth
Hostage, J. C., & House, M. (2021). 584 Ultrasound measurement of the obstetric conjugate and the relative position of the internal cervical os. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 224(2, Supplement), S368-S369. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937820319815
Hostage, J., & House, M. (2021). Fetal weight estimation. Seminars in Perinatology, 45(1), 151359.
ISUOG. (2019). ISUOG Practice Guidelines: ultrasound assessment of fetal biometry and growth. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 53(6), 715-723.
Jukic, A. M., Baird, D. D., Weinberg, C. R., McConnaughey, D. R., & Wilcox, A. J. (2013). Length of human pregnancy and gestational age at term. Human Reproduction, 28(9), 2339-2348.
Kuchnowska, D., Stachura, A., Kosinski, P., Gawlak, M., & Wegrzyn, P. (2024). Accuracy of Estimated Fetal Weight Assessment in Fetuses with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia—Is the Hadlock Formula a Reliable Tool? Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(12), 3392. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/12/3392
Lindström, L., Cnattingius, S., Axelsson, O., & Granfors, M. (2023). Accuracy and precision of sonographic fetal weight estimation in Sweden. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 102(6), 699-707. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aogs.14554
Ma, J., Cheng, D., Zhang, Z., Cai, B., & Xu, X. (2023). Evaluating the accuracy of sonographic fetal weight estimations using the Hadlock IV formula in a Chinese population. Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery, 13(6), 3726-3734. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10240036/pdf/qims-13-06-3726.pdf
Mater Group. (2017). Ultrasound scan—fetal growth scan. https://brochures.mater.org.au/brochures/mater-mothers-hospital/ultrasound-scan-fetal-growth-scan
Mukaka, M. M. (2012). Statistics corner: A guide to appropriate use of correlation coefficient in medical research. Malawi Medical Journal, 24(3), 69-71.
Ordoñez Ocampo, B. P., Ochoa Romero, M. E., Erráez Alvarado, J. L., León González, J. L., & Espinoza Freire, E. E. (2021). Consideraciones sobre aula invertida y gamificación en el área de ciencias sociales. Revista Universidad y Sociedad, 13(3), 497-504.
Pino, A., Raposo, N., Marin, F., Navarrete, E., Martínez, V., & Veroes, J. A. (2022). Medición ecográfica del grosor del segmento uterino y miometrial durante el trabajo de parto en pacientes con cesárea previa. Revista Venezolana de Ultrasonido en Medicina (RVUM), 2(3), 121-129. http://saber.ucv.ve/ojs/index.php/rev_rvum/article/view/24720/144814490912
Reboiras, A., García, Z., Feldman, F., Gómez, L., Barquet, J., Garat, F., & Agostini, M. D. (2024). Valoración del margen de error ecográfico entre el peso fetal estimado y el peso al nacer en la Maternidad del Hospital de Clínicas. Anales de la Facultad de Medicina,
Radiologyinfo.org. (2021). Obstetric Ultrasound. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/obstetricus
Reyna-Villasmil, E., et al. (2023). Utilidad de la ecografía Doppler en la predicción de resultados perinatales adversos. Revista de Obstetricia y Ginecología de Venezuela, 83(4), 1-15.
Reyna-Villasmil, E., Mejia-Montilla, J., Torres-Cepeda, D., Reyna-Villasmil, N., Rondón-Tapia, M., & Briceño-Pérez, C. (2023). Utilidad de la medición del diámetro transversal del cerebelo fetal para la predicción de la edad gestacional. Revista peruana de Ginecología y Obstetricia, 69(1), 1-7. http://www.scielo.org.pe/pdf/rgo/v69n1/2304-5132-rgo-69-01-00003.pdf
Sandoval, I., Véliz, R., Sepúlveda, Á., Candia, A. A., & Herrera, E. A. (2022). Utilidad de la ecografía Doppler en el diagnóstico, el pronóstico y el manejo de la restricción del crecimiento fetal: situación en Chile. Revista chilena de obstetricia y ginecología, 87(3), 218-228. https://www.scielo.cl/pdf/rchog/v87n3/0048-766X-rechog-87-3-218.pdf
Velastegui-Ayala, R., & González-Andrade, F. (2021). Ecografía Obstétrica Básica. Editorial de la Universidad de Cuenca.
Velastegui-Ayala, E., & González-Andrade, F. (2021). Alta concordancia en la evaluación clínica versus ultrasonido para estimar el peso fetal cuando se compara con el peso al nacer en recién nacidos a término. Rev ecuat pediatr [Internet], 22(2), 1-10. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/100820438/78-libre.pdf?1680912759=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DHigher_Concordance_in_Clinical_Assessmen.pdf&Expires=1742613218&Signature=TPhqN8fqoLYzm26qjHhVliWi2WIQbklw508E1VdfJ1U7~g-OVteD04DSpPnn8GSGOCpj3hd-d8~yN2gu6QU-ME6184oT-ICS7bNsVFm-oc2D7yHpLE1EpRvDT3ZiKhDJGHrqbk--ilKu45tZ9kOHavDNCChOLh37nx9raxeDVyTO1NQM0jDPCLp7P2j8AHUAJErTyD29U0zykgPv25WlDeGvoE~8VnExMui6Yd0cSeaspYlsmZNQcjpracdwjScGGpWa9Y0fI1a8Gl6Vyn7WVAy9A6HZtjYGncrNcWvr3N7oaoBNJSAVsTzKMNRfCSkSjcp6ViPtvcpg4IQq7LOWZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
Villacres Arias, G. E., Espinoza Freire, E. E., & Rengifo Ávila, G. K. (2020). Empleo de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación como estrategia innovadora de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Revista Universidad y Sociedad, 12(5), 136-142.
Warland, J., Dorrian, J., (2018). Risk factors for intrauterine growth restriction in a cohort of Australian women. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(1), 1-10.
Ypanaqué Acajima, J., Sanjinez Farías, C., & Vargas Maldonado, C. (2020). Formación académica en ecografía obstétrica en una red primaria de salud del norte de Perú. Atención Primaria Práctica, 2(6), 100071. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2605073020300365
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Katherine Valeria Estévez-Freire, Juliana Karolina Chamorro-Delgado, Liley Marisol Saavedra-Chico, Ruth Damaris Peñafiel-Lara

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.














