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Updated: Aug 28, 2026
Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
The Value of Transvaginal Neurosonography in the Detection of Fetal Ganglionic Eminence Abnormalities
Krzysztof Berbeka1,2, Aleksy Świetlicki3,4, Katarzyna Stefańska5
1First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, ul. Żelazna 90, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland.
Introduction:
The fetal ganglionic eminence (GE) is a transient brain structure involved in interneuron development; its abnormalities may be associated with malformations of cortical development (MCD). This systematic review evaluated the feasibility and clinical value of transvaginal neurosonography for fetal GE assessment.
Material And Methods:
PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from January 2015 to June 2026. Human in vivo ultrasound studies of the fetal GE were included.
Results:
Thirteen studies comprising 890 fetuses were included. GE visualization ranged from 71% to 100%, with highest rates using dedicated three-dimensional transvaginal neurosonography at 9-22 weeks. Measurement reproducibility was good to excellent. GE cavitation and enlargement were associated with MCD in selected high-risk cohorts, but reported frequencies varied substantially.
Conclusions:
Transvaginal neurosonography permits feasible and reproducible visualization of the fetal GE in experienced hands. Small studies, heterogeneous protocols, and limited long-term outcome data preclude routine GE assessment at present.