Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Assessment of the Fetal Sylvian Fissure in the Setting of Diffuse Cortical Abnormalities Detection: A Comparison of
Corinne Labadini1,2, Andrea Dall'asta1, Raphael Bartin3
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Objectives:
The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of the currently published techniques for Sylvian fissure (SF) evaluation on the axial plane in normal fetuses and in fetuses with confirmed diffuse malformation of cortical development (MCD).
Methods:
We performed a retrospective study in which the SF was assessed from fetuses between 22 and 33 weeks of gestation on a 2D transabdominal axial plane by means of subjective and objective methods derived from a literature search. The accuracy of the different techniques to predict the presence or the absence of MCD was compared.
Results:
100 fetuses were included at a median gestational age of 26 (22-33) weeks. Of these, 93 fetuses were normal. Subjective evaluation showed 100% (95% CI: 65-100) sensitivity and 100% (95% CI: 96-100) specificity for predicting the absence or presence of MCD. Conversely, when applying objective methods in the evaluation of the SF, the sensitivity ranged from 29% (95% CI: 8-64) to 57% (95% CI: 25-84) and the specificity from 23% (95% CI: 15-32) to 98% (95% CI: 92-100).
Conclusions:
The comparison of different methods for the expert assessment of the SF in the axial plane has shown that the subjective evaluation of the SF may be more accurate than other proposed methods in predicting the presence or absence of diffuse MCD. Further prospective research is needed to validate these results in daily practice.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...