Correlation between increased echogenicity of the fetal intestine on ultrasound and neonatal growth parameters: A retrospective study in a regional hospital of Taiwan

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between fetal hyperechogenic bowel (FHB), detected through level II ultrasound, and early postnatal growth outcomes-birth weight, length, and head circumference-in a regional hospital in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 158 neonates underwent prenatal level II ultrasound screening at Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital between 2023 and 2024. After exclusions, 94 infants were enrolled and classified into FHB and non-FHB groups. Growth metrics at birth, one month, and two months old were compared using t-tests with Bonferroni correction. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess group, time, and interaction effects. RESULTS: At birth, infants with FHB had significantly smaller head circumferences than those without (33.14 ± 1.83 cm vs. 33.99 ± 1.37 cm; p = 0.036). At one month old, no significant differences were observed in growth metrics. By two months of age, the FHB group showed significantly lower mean length (56.37 ± 3.18 cm vs. 58.42 ± 2.50 cm; p = 0.015), weight (5.09 ± 0.79 kg vs. 5.56 ± 0.77 kg; p = 0.047), and head circumference (37.92 ± 1.38 cm vs. 39.32 ± 1.48 cm; p < 0.001). Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant group effects for length and head circumference, a time effect across all metrics, but no group-time interaction. CONCLUSION: Prenatal detection of FHB may be linked to reduced growth in early infancy, particularly at two months. These findings highlight the potential role of FHB as an early marker for targeted postnatal monitoring and nutritional support to optimize neonatal development.