Question

Hydramnios is diagnosed by ultrasound by all of the following, EXCEPT

• A. Single vertical pocket more than 8 cm
• B. Single vertical pocket more than 5 cm
• C. Amniotic fluid index more than 24 cm
• D. Subjective assessment

Hint:

Ask which of the four choices gives a fixed, measurable number and which one does not.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

This question checks which methods are actually used to call a pregnancy hydramnios on ultrasound, and which one is not a real diagnostic yardstick.

1. Single vertical pocket more than 8 cm: This is the standard, widely used cutoff for the deepest pocket method. It gives one fixed number that anyone can measure and compare.
2. Single vertical pocket more than 5 cm: This lower cutoff is also used in some classifications to flag increased fluid, and it is still a measured pocket depth, so it counts as an objective method.
3. Amniotic fluid index more than 24 cm: This is the four quadrant sum method, another standard, reproducible measurement used to define hydramnios.
4. Subjective assessment: This means simply looking at the scan and judging that there seems to be too much fluid. It gives no fixed cutoff, depends on who is looking, and is not a defined diagnostic criterion the way a measured number is.

The pocket depth methods and the amniotic fluid index all give a specific number to test against a cutoff, so they count as genuine diagnostic tools. A subjective visual impression does not meet that bar.

Let's summarize:

• Deepest pocket and amniotic fluid index are measured, number based diagnostic criteria.
• Subjective assessment is an impression, not a defined measurement.

So the one that is not used to formally diagnose hydramnios on ultrasound is subjective assessment.