ABSTRACT
Background: The Thymus, an essential foetal lymphoid organ involved in the development of foetal T cell lymphocytes . Several studies have suggested a potential correlation between an abnormally small Thymus and unfavourable prenatal and postnatal outcomes.
Aim and objectives: to detect an association between fetal growth restriction and Thymus gland volume
Subjects and methods: an observational Case Control study, the study was conducted in the Obstetric clinic at Fayoum university hospital, on a total sample size of 110 participants (55 cases and 55 matched controls).
Results: There were non significant differences between both studied groups regarding maternal age, gravidity, parity and gestational age at time of study enrolment (p-values >0.05). Estimated fetal weight was significantly lower among IUGR group .A threshold volume of thymus gland ≤3.9 could predict IUGR with a sensitivity of 80.18%% and a specificity of 41.80%.
Conclusion: the study detected an association between IUGR and fetal thymic involution., accordingly including fetal thymus size measurement in antenatal U/S evaluate improve out antenatal fetal surveillance.