The gestational age of a fetus at the time of intrauterine death can be estimated from histologic features of different organs. This data can be used in conjunction with body and placental measurements.
Organs that may be helpful in estimating the gestational age:
(1) kidney
(2) lung
(3) skin
(4) thyroid
(5) trachea
(6) thymus
(7) pancreas
(8) spleen
(9) adrenal glands
|
Rows of Primitive Glomeruli in Kidney |
Rows of Mature Glomeruli in Kidney |
Gestational Age |
|
3 |
2 to 4 |
20 to 25 weeks |
|
2 |
4 to 6 |
25 to 28 weeks |
|
1 |
6 to 8 |
28 to 30 weeks |
|
remnants remain |
8 to 10 |
30 to 36 weeks |
|
totally gone |
10 |
36 weeks or more |
|
Stage of Lung Development |
Histologic Features |
Gestational Age |
|
pseudoglandular |
tubules lined by columnar epithelium, separated by mesenchyma |
5 to 16 weeks |
|
canalicular |
bronchioles and alveolar ducts present |
16 to 24 weeks |
|
terminal sac |
terminal sacs being formed, with epithelium lining thin and capillaries in close contact with the alveolar basement membrane |
after 24 weeks |
|
Finding |
Gestational Age |
|
thyroid follicle without colloid |
8 - 11 weeks |
|
islets of Langerhans present |
>= 10 weeks |
|
thyroid follicle with colloid |
>= 12 weeks |
|
tracheal glands present |
>= 12 weeks |
|
Hassal bodies in thymus |
>= 12 weeks |
|
skin keratinized |
>= 16 weeks |
|
perivascular lymphoid tissue in spleen |
>= 20 weeks |
|
absence of neuroblastic islands in adrenal gland |
> 26 weeks (usually) |
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory, Pedatrics
ICD-10: ,
