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Quantification of Fetal Gyrogenesis in the Third Trimester. A Novel Algorithm for Evaluating Fetal Sulci Development
Author(s) -
Ginsberg Yuval,
GanorAriav Oryan,
Hussein Hadeel,
Adam Dan,
Khatib Nizar,
Weiner Zeev,
Beloosesky Ron,
Goldstein Israel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of neuroimaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1552-6569
pISSN - 1051-2284
DOI - 10.1111/jon.12817
Subject(s) - medicine , fetal head , fetus , gestational age , ultrasound , sagittal plane , third trimester , pregnancy , nuclear medicine , algorithm , anatomy , radiology , mathematics , biology , genetics
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The fetal brain changes significantly throughout gestation. From a smooth (lissencephalic) cortex, it transforms into its convolved (gyrencephalic) state. Despite its importance, the diagnosis of delay in brain gyrogenesis is a challenge for many sonographers. This study presents a novel semiautomatic image processing algorithm for simple quantification of sagittal sulci maturation in the third trimester. METHODS Mid‐sagittal fetal brain ultrasound images were obtained during routine third trimester scans. Fetal brain sulci length measurements were performed using a novel semiautomatic image processing algorithm followed by manual measurements. Correlations between the total length of the sulci, gestational age, and fetal biometry were examined. RESULTS The study included 64 patients. A significant positive linear correlation was found between total sulci length and gestational age ( r = .658 for automated measurement, r = .7 for manual measurement, P < .0001). A similar relationship was found comparing total sulci length and fetal head circumference ( r = .694 for automated measurement, r = .74 for manual measurement; P < .0001). A significant correlation was observed between automated and manual measurements ( r = .947). CONCLUSIONS We found that fetal gyrogenesis is linear throughout the third trimester of pregnancy. The use of a computer algorithm to measure fetal sulci can be used as a simple prenatal screening test for delayed gyral maturation of the fetal brain.