Fetal development of the corpus callosum: Insights from a 3T DTI and tractography study in a patient with segmental callosal agenesis

Scola, Elisa; Sirgiovanni, Ida; Avignone, Sabrina; Cinnante, Claudia; Biffi, Riccardo; Fumagalli, Monica; Triulzi, Fabio

doi:10.1177/1971400916665390

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Diffusion‐weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging tractography are MRI techniques used for neuroimaging in the pediatric and adult populations. Currently, fetal diffusion tensor imaging is not part of the standard of care and is technically challenging, as fetal motion limits the utility of the study; however, in research studies, it holds potential in evaluation of the fetal corpus callosum 44,45 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently, fetal diffusion tensor imaging is not part of the standard of care and is technically challenging, as fetal motion limits the utility of the study; however, in research studies, it holds potential in evaluation of the fetal corpus callosum. 44,45 Implications for Management On screening US, we do not report a normal cavum unless normally shaped FHs are seen directly adjacent to the cavum. Identification of abnormal FH morphology or lateral displacement on any image plane should prompt an attempt at direct visualization of the corpus callosum in the sagittal plane as well as an assessment for indirect signs of ACC; patients can be reevaluated at 22 weeks with US, allowing for a further evaluation with MRI, if necessary.…”

Section: Timing and Type Of Imagingmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum in Fetuses

Ghassemi

Rupe

Perez

et al. 2020

J of Ultrasound Medicine

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Objectives-We hypothesized that: (1) fetal frontal horn (FH) morphology and their proximity to the cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) can assist in suspecting complete agenesis of the corpus callosum (cACC) and partial agenesis of the corpus callosum (pACC) earlier than known indirect ultrasound (US) findings; (2) FHs assist in differentiating a true CSP from a pseudocavum; and (3) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful in learning FH morphology and pseudocavum etiology. Methods-Thirty-two patients with cACC and 9 with pACC were identified on an Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective review. Of the 41 cases, 40 had prenatal US, and 21 had prenatal MRI; 17 had follow-up neonatal US, and 14 had follow-up neonatal MRI. Variables evaluated retrospectively were the presence of a CSP or a pseudocavum, ventricle size and shape, and FH shape (comma, trident, parallel, golf club, enlarged, or fused). Displacement between the inferior edge of the FH and the midline or cavum/pseudocavum was measured. Results-Fetal FHs had an abnormal shape in 77% ≤20 weeks' gestation, 86% ≤24 weeks, and 90% >24 weeks. Frontal horns were laterally displaced greater than 2 mm in 85% ≤20 weeks, 91% ≤24 weeks, and 95% >24 weeks. The CSP was absent in 100% of cACC cases and 78% of pACC cases, and a pseudocavum was present in 88% of cACC cases and 78% of pACC cases across gestation. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed US pseudocavums to be focal interhemispheric fluid or an elevated/dilated third ventricle. Conclusions-Frontal horns assist in assessing ACC ≤24 weeks and throughout gestation. Pseudocavums, often simulating CSPs, are common in ACC. Frontal horn lateral displacement and abnormal morphology, recognized by MRI correlations, are helpful in differentiating a pseudocavum from a true CSP. A normal CSP should not be cleared on screening US unless normally shaped FHs are seen directly adjacent to it. Key Words-agenesis of the corpus callosum; cavum septi pellucidi; fetus; frontal horns; ventriculomegaly A genesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is defined as complete or partial absence of the large commissure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres. Development

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Timing and Type Of Imagingmentioning

confidence: 91%

Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum in Fetuses

Ghassemi

Rupe

Perez

et al. 2020

J of Ultrasound Medicine

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“…Since then, MRI has made an enormous progress, given that it offers high-resolution 3D imaging and can evaluate the properties and composition of various tissues. Magnetic resonance (MR) elastography techniques are now available to measure tissue elasticity [ 12 ], and diffusion MRI explores water molecule movement in cells and tracks fibers on fetal cerebral nerve cells, uterine cells, and perineal muscle cells [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging During Childbirth to Demonstrate Fetal Head Moldability and Brain Compression: Prospective Cohort Study

Ami¹,

Maran²,

Musset³

et al. 2022

JMIR Form Res

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Background Childbirth is a physiological process with significant medical risk, given that neurological impairment due to the birthing process can occur at any time. Improvements in risk assessment and anticipatory interventions are constantly needed; however, the birthing process is difficult to assess using simple imaging technology because the maternal bony pelvis and fetal skeleton interfere with visualizing the soft tissues. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive technique with no ionizing radiation that can monitor the biomechanics of the birthing process. However, the effective use of this modality requires teamwork and the implementation of the appropriate safeguards to achieve appropriate safety levels. Objective This study describes a clinically effective and safe method to perform real-time MRI during the birthing process. We reported the experience of our team as part of the IMAGINAITRE study protocol (France), which aimed to better understand the biomechanics of childbirth. Methods A total of 27 pregnant women were examined with 3D MRI sequences before going into labor using a 1-Tesla open-field MRI. Of these 27 patients, 7 (26%) subsequently had another set of 3D MRI sequences during the second stage of labor. Volumes of 2D images were transformed into finite element 3D reconstructions. Polygonal meshes for each part of the fetal body were used to study fetal head moldability and brain compression. Results All 7 observed babies showed a sugarloaf skull deformity and brain compression at the middle strait. The fetus showing the greatest degree of molding and brain shape deformation weighed 4525 g and was born spontaneously but also presented with a low Apgar score. In this case, observable brain shape deformation demonstrated that brain compression had occurred, and it was not necessarily well tolerated by the fetus. Depending on fetal head moldability, these observations suggest that cephalopelvic disproportion can result in either obstructed labor or major fetal head molding with brain compression. Conclusions This study suggests the presence of skull moldability as a confounding factor explaining why MRI, even with the best precision to measure radiological landmarks, fails to accurately predict the modality of childbirth. This introduces the fetal head compliance criterion as a way to better understand cephalopelvic disproportion mechanisms in obstetrics. MRI might be the best imaging technology by which to explore all combined aspects of cephalopelvic disproportion and achieve a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of fetal head molding and moldability.

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“…It is now possible to reconstruct high-resolution 3D images of the moving fetal brain from multiple 2D image series ( Rousseau et al, 2006 ; Jiang et al, 2007 ; Gholipour et al, 2010 ; Kim et al, 2010a , 2010b , 2011 ; Kuklisova--Murgasova et al, 2012 ; Kainz et al, 2015 ; Tourbier et al, 2015 ), and it is also possible to assess anisotropy in water diffusion in utero using these methods ( Huang et al, 2009 ; Jiang et al, 2009 ; Fogtmann et al, 2014 ). Quantitative characterization of macroscopic changes in the fetal brain, as well as the analysis of water diffusion anisotropy, can therefore be used to monitor the cellular-level development of white matter ( Scola et al, 2016 ) and cortical gray matter ( Wang et al, 2017 ) tissue in the developing brain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomical and diffusion MRI brain atlases of the fetal rhesus macaque brain at 85, 110 and 135 days gestation

et al. 2020

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Recent advances in image reconstruction techniques have enabled high resolution MRI studies of fetal brain development in human subjects. Rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) are valuable animal models for use in studies of fetal brain development due to the similarities between this species and humans in brain development and anatomy. There is a need to develop fetal brain templates for the rhesus macaque to facilitate the characterization of the normal brain growth trajectory and departures from this trajectory in rhesus models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we have developed unbiased population-based anatomical T 2 -weighted, fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) templates for fetal brain from MR images scanned at 3 time points over the second and third trimesters of the 168 day gestational term. Specifically, atlas images are constructed for brains at gestational ages of 85 days (G85, N = 18, 9 females), 110 days (G110, N = 10, 7 females) and 135 days (G135, N = 16, 7 females). We utilized this atlas to perform segmentation of fetal brain MR images and fetal brain volumetric and microstructure analysis. The T 2 -weighted template images facilitated characterization of the growth within six fetal brain regions. The template images of diffusion tensor indices provided information related to the maturation of white matter tracts. These growth trajectories are referenced to human studies of fetal brain development. Similarities in the temporal and regional patterns of brain growth over the corresponding periods of central nervous system development are identified between the two species. Atlas images are available online as a reference for registration, reconstruction, segmentation, and for longitudinal analysis of early fetal brain growth over this unique time window.

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Fetal development of the corpus callosum: Insights from a 3T DTI and tractography study in a patient with segmental callosal agenesis

Cited by 6 publications

References 6 publications

Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum in Fetuses

Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum in Fetuses

Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging During Childbirth to Demonstrate Fetal Head Moldability and Brain Compression: Prospective Cohort Study

Anatomical and diffusion MRI brain atlases of the fetal rhesus macaque brain at 85, 110 and 135 days gestation

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