Three-dimensional sonographic volume measurement of the fetal cerebellum |
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Authors: | Toshiyuki Hata Atsushi Kuno Shu-Yan Dai Eisuke Inubashiri Uiko Hanaoka Kenji Kanenishi Chizu Yamashiro Hirokazu Tanaka Toshihiro Yanagihara |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan;(2) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Suzuki Hospital, Toyota, Aichi, Japan |
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Abstract: | Purpose The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the growth of the fetal cerebellum in normal pregnancy by using three-dimensional
ultrasound.
Methods Three-dimensional sonographic examinations were performed for 13 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses. Fetal cerebellar
volume was measured every 2 to 3 weeks after 20 weeks of gestational age until delivery. The common multiplanar technique
was used to calculate the fetal cerebellar volume.
Results A curvilinear relationship was found between gestational age and cerebellar volume (R2 = 78.6%, P < 0.0001), and normal ranges of cerebellar volume measurements for estimating the growth of the fetal cerebellum during normal
pregnancy were generated. The data gathered in this study were fairly comparable with previous data obtained using three-dimensional
ultrasound. However, the normal ranges of cerebellar volume that we determined were relatively wide throughout pregnancy.
Conclusions Our findings suggest that a standard curve for fetal cerebellar volume using three-dimensional ultrasound can play a role
in the evaluation of normal cerebellar growth in the fetus. However, we do cast doubt on the reliability and reproducibility
of cerebellar volume measurement using three-dimensional ultrasound. Further studies involving a larger sample size and another
technique (the rotational method with VOCAL) would be needed to confirm these findings. |
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Keywords: | three-dimensional ultrasound cerebellar volume appropriate-for-gestational-age-fetus normal pregnancy |
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