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WS08‐03Prenatal diagnosis of congenital and acquired brain abnormality
Author(s) -
Pooh R. K.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00009-1-49.x
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , periventricular leukomalacia , abnormality , fetus , in utero , prenatal diagnosis , central nervous system , neuroimaging , ventricular system , radiology , pathology , pregnancy , hydrocephalus , gestational age , psychiatry , biology , genetics
The intrauterine development of the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the most interesting fields in perinatology. The brain has three‐dimensional structure and rapidly changes its appearance during pregnancy. Therefore, the fetal brain should be evaluated three‐dimensionally with consideration of gestational age. Sonoembryology has been established by high‐frequency transvaginal sonography. Premature brain structure and ventricular system of early fetuses can be clearly demonstrated and prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies has been done earlier and earlier. Application of transvaginal approach to the fetal brain in the second and third trimesters has enabled brain imaging from fetal parietal direction through fontanelles and cranial sutures, and ‘neurosonography’ has been established. Recent introduction of 3D ultrasound in neurosonography produced skull imaging, serial parallel images of the brain structure, volume extraction of target organ and brain circulatory images. Furthermore, advanced technology of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can demonstrate CNS morphology including the brain stem, which is not clearly depicted by sonography. By using all those technologies, prenatal diagnosis of CNS abnormalities has been more objective and accurate. Intracranial changes in cases with CNS anomalies have been objectively demonstrated in vivo . Furthermore, intrauterine acquired brain damage such as periventricular leukomalacia, which is one of the controversial issues in perinatology, has been proven by sonography in a few cases. Further case studies will be required for investigation of CNS pathology in utero .