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Three‐dimensional sonographic evaluation of the fetal lumbar spinal canal
Author(s) -
Wallny Thomas,
Schild Ralf L.,
Fimmers Rolf,
Hansmann Manfred E.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00048.x
Subject(s) - lumbar , medicine , computer science , fetus , spinal canal , anatomy , pregnancy , spinal cord , biology , psychiatry , genetics
In a prospective cross‐sectional ultrasound study the size of the fetal lumbar spinal canal was evaluated to determine reference values for the lumbar part of the vertebral canal. One hundred and sixty‐seven pregnant women undergoing routine obstetric ultrasound were studied between 16 and 41 weeks of gestation. Exclusion criteria consisted of structural fetal anomalies or growth restriction. Area and volume of the vertebral canal at L1, L3 and L5 were calculated by three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound. Length of the lumbar spine was also determined. The size of the spinal canal and spinal length correlated well with gestational age. No gestational‐age‐dependent differences in area and volume measurements between upper and lower lumbar spine were found. The results provide an in vivo assessment of the spinal canal by 3D ultrasound over the entire gestation period.