Finding the best method for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus: fetal thymic-thoracic ratio or fetal thymus transverse diameter

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of fetal thymic-thoracic ratio and fetal thymus transverse diameter measurements in gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Fetal thymic-thoracic ratio and fetal thymus transverse diameter were assessed in 360 pregnant women. Patients were examined in two groups: 180 gestational diabetes mellitus (study group) and 180 healthy pregnant women (control group). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the cases with gestational diabetes mellitus and the control group in terms of fetal thymus transverse diameter; however, the fetal thymic-thoracic ratio was found to be significantly lower in cases with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to that in the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The fetal thymic-thoracic ratio is superior to the fetal thymus transverse diameter in evaluating the fetal thymus size.