Fetal central nervous system biometry on MR imaging.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Fetal Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Accurate fetal biometry is crucial for assessing gestational age and detecting abnormalities.
• Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers detailed visualization of the fetal central nervous system (CNS).
• Comparing MR imaging biometry with established sonographic methods is essential for clinical validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare fetal head biometry measurements obtained via MR imaging with those from sonography.
• To evaluate the accuracy of MR imaging in fetuses with and without suspected CNS abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of blinded MR imaging measurements (biparietal diameter, head circumference, cerebellar width).
• Comparison of MR imaging-derived gestational age with sonographic and clinical assignments in normal fetuses.
• Direct comparison of MR imaging and sonographic measurements in fetuses with CNS abnormalities.
• Statistical analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficients and paired sample t tests.

Main Results:

• Strong correlation between MR imaging biometry and gestational age in fetuses without CNS abnormalities.
• Significant correlation between MR imaging and sonographic biparietal diameter and head circumference in fetuses with CNS abnormalities.
• MR imaging showed a larger mean biparietal diameter compared to sonography in fetuses with CNS abnormalities (p=0.038).

Conclusions:

• Fetal head biometry using MR imaging is strongly correlated with gestational age in fetuses without CNS abnormalities.
• MR imaging and sonographic biometry measurements are significantly correlated in fetuses with CNS abnormalities.
• MR imaging is a viable tool for fetal CNS biometry as part of comprehensive fetal MR imaging evaluations.