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Open Access 01-07-2017 | Original Article

Normative biometry of the fetal brain using magnetic resonance imaging

Authors: Vanessa Kyriakopoulou, Deniz Vatansever, Alice Davidson, Prachi Patkee, Samia Elkommos, Andrew Chew, Miriam Martinez-Biarge, Bibbi Hagberg, Mellisa Damodaram, Joanna Allsop, Matt Fox, Joseph V. Hajnal, Mary A. Rutherford

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 5/2017

Abstract

The fetal brain shows accelerated growth in the latter half of gestation, and these changes can be captured by 2D and 3D biometry measurements. The aim of this study was to quantify brain growth in normal fetuses using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and to produce reference biometry data and a freely available centile calculator (https://www.developingbrain.co.uk/fetalcentiles/). A total of 127 MRI examinations (1.5 T) of fetuses with a normal brain appearance (21–38 gestational weeks) were included in this study. 2D and 3D biometric parameters were measured from slice-to-volume reconstructed images, including 3D measurements of supratentorial brain tissue, lateral ventricles, cortex, cerebellum and extra-cerebral CSF and 2D measurements of brain biparietal diameter and fronto-occipital length, skull biparietal diameter and occipitofrontal diameter, head circumference, transverse cerebellar diameter, extra-cerebral CSF, ventricular atrial diameter, and vermis height, width, and area. Centiles were constructed for each measurement. All participants were invited for developmental follow-up. All 2D and 3D measurements, except for atrial diameter, showed a significant positive correlation with gestational age. There was a sex effect on left and total lateral ventricular volumes and the degree of ventricular asymmetry. The 5th, 50th, and 95th centiles and a centile calculator were produced. Developmental follow-up was available for 73.1% of cases [mean chronological age 27.4 (±10.2) months]. We present normative reference charts for fetal brain MRI biometry at 21–38 gestational weeks. Developing growth trajectories will aid in the better understanding of normal fetal brain growth and subsequently of deviations from typical development in high-risk pregnancies or following premature delivery.

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Title: Normative biometry of the fetal brain using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Vanessa Kyriakopoulou
Deniz Vatansever
Alice Davidson
Prachi Patkee
Samia Elkommos
Andrew Chew
Miriam Martinez-Biarge
Bibbi Hagberg
Mellisa Damodaram
Joanna Allsop
Matt Fox
Joseph V. Hajnal
Mary A. Rutherford
Publication date: 01-07-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Brain Structure and Function / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-016-1342-6

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Normative biometry of the fetal brain using magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

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Abstract

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