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Assessment of cortical gyrus and sulcus formation using magnetic resonance images in small‐for‐gestational‐age fetuses
Author(s) -
Abe Seiji,
Takagi Kenjiro,
Yamamoto Tatsuo,
Kato Toshinori
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.869
Subject(s) - fetus , small for gestational age , gestational age , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , gestation , appropriate for gestational age , obstetrics , pregnancy , radiology , biology , genetics
Objectives The purpose was to compare the development of gyrus and sulcus formation (GSF), an indicator of brain maturation, in small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) fetuses using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, with those of appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age (AGA) fetuses. Methods The 160 infants with a normal neurological outcome were divided into two groups on the basis of their body weight at delivery; 37 SGA infants (Group SGA) and 123 AGA infants (Group AGA). Fetal MR images, which were obtained from 28 to 39 gestational weeks in Group SGA and from 18 to 39 gestational weeks in Group AGA, were classified into the 8 stages of development for GSF established by Abe et al. (2003), and comparison was made between the two groups retrospectively in their neurological development in relation to gestational age. Results In Group SGA, images were classified into stages 3 to 8 ( P < 0.001). The gestational age of the cases determined for each stage between Groups SGA and AGA did not differ significantly, with respect to the development of GSF, despite differences in fetal estimated body weights. Conclusion In SGA fetuses, evaluation of fetal GSF using MR images during the third trimester may be useful for predicting neurological prognoses postpartum. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.