Quantitative standards for fetal and neonatal autopsy.

Abstract

Growth curves are essential for determining whether growth parameters lie within normal ranges. In the case of fetal and neonatal autopsy, relevant data are scattered across many publications, and few sources examine a large enough sample to be considered definitive. To ameliorate these inadequacies, regressions were created incorporating data from multiple sources both to increase accuracy and to condense available data into a single standard. When measurements were not well studied, the best available published standards are given. These regressions provide a valuable tool for clinicians who need to understand the significance of measurements obtained during autopsy.