Ultrasonographic imaging of the fetal hippocampus

The objective was to identify the fetal hippocampus and fornix using 2D and to measure the C-shaped length of fornix and hippocampus.

This study was designed in cross-section. Healthy singleton and between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation pregnant women who applied to the perinatology outpatient clinic for second-level ultrasound scanning between December 2022 and February 2023 were included in the study. Patients were screened consecutively. Demographic information of the participants was obtained and an ultrasound scan was performed. The fetal fornix-hippocampus' length and hippocampal height were measured in the sagittal section. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation, median (min, max), or number (percent).

A total of 92 patients were included in the study. Fetal fornix and hippocampus measurements were taken in % 97.8 (90/92) patients. The mean of the fetal fornix-hippocampus length and fetal hippocampus height of 90 patients were measured as 35.6 ± 3.0 and 4.7 ± 3.9, respectively.

Fetal fornix and hippocampus can be visualized in easily with two-dimensional ultrasound during anomaly scanning in the second trimester.