Related Experiment Videos
Fetal spine morphology and maturation during the second trimester. Sonographic evaluation
R A Filly1, G F Simpson, G Linkowski
1Department of Radiology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.
Summary
Fetal spine ossification begins in the cervical region and progresses caudally. Lumbar and sacral ossification are typically visualized later in gestation, aiding in accurate diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Prenatal Diagnosis
- Fetal Development
Background:
- Accurate assessment of fetal spinal development is crucial for diagnosing congenital anomalies.
- Understanding the normal ossification timeline of the fetal spine is essential for differentiating normal development from pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the typical sonographic appearance and gestational age of posterior neural arch ossification in the fetal spine.
- To provide reference data for sonographic evaluation of fetal spinal ossification.
Main Methods:
- Review of high-resolution real-time sonographic images of the fetal spine in 46 normal fetuses.
- Gestational age ranged from 18 to 27 menstrual weeks.
- Grading of posterior neural arch ossification and comparison with gestational age.
Main Results:
- Cervical neural arch ossification was visible in all fetuses.
- Ossification progressed sequentially to thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions.
- Sonographically recognizable lumbar ossification was observed between 22-24 weeks, and sacral ossification at or after 25 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Knowledge of normal fetal spinal ossification patterns can prevent false-positive diagnoses of spinal dysraphism.
- This understanding can enhance the detection of fetal spinal anomalies.