4D ultrasound evaluation of fetal facial expressions during the latter stages of the second trimester

Abstract

The results indicate that facial expressions can be used as an indicator of normal fetal neurologic development from the second to the third trimester. 4D ultrasound may be a valuable tool for assessing fetal neurobehavioral development during gestation.

Facial Expressions of Fetal Growth Restriction and Appropriate-for-Gestational Age Fetuses Assessed by Four-Dimensional High-Definition Live Ultrasound

“…In the present study using 4D HDlive ultrasound, AGA fetuses between 26 and 37 weeks of gestation demonstrated that mouthing was the most frequent facial expression ( Figure 3A), which is compatible with the previous reports from Japan (Sato et al [14], Kanenishi et al [13], and Yan et al [12]). In contrast to AGA fetus, however, remarkable decrease in the frequency of this mouthing later than 34 weeks in FGR fetuses is the most striking finding in our current study (Tables 5B and 6B, Figures 4B and 5B).…”

“…Recruiting large sample sizes is required in the future study to investigate whether the tendency demonstrated in the present study can be generalized with statistically significant difference. Second, subjective determination to evaluate fetal facial expressions obtained by 4D HDlive ultrasound might lead to inter-observer variability [13,25]. Although relatively good intra-and inter-class correlation coefficients were obtained in the present study, further investigations are required [14,27].…”

“…By viewing 15-min 4D HDlive recordings after ultrasound examinations, one examiner (Examiner A) counted the frequency of the following seven types of previously-reported facial expressions by Yan et al in each case: blinking, mouthing, yawning, tongue expulsion, sucking, smiling and scowling [12][13][14].…”

“…Kanenishi et al [13], and Yan et al [12]). In the present study using 4D HDlive ultrasound, AGA fetuses between 26 and 37 weeks of gestation demonstrated that mouthing was the most frequent facial expression ( Figure 3A), which is compatible with the previous reports from Japan (Sato et al [14], Kanenishi et al [13], and Yan et al [12]).…”

“…Sato et al [14] described that mouthing was the most common facial expression between 20 and 24 weeks of gestation. Kanenishi et al [13] showed that mouthing was the most common facial expression between 25 and 27 weeks of gestation. Yan et al [12] noted that mouthing was the most frequent facial expression between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation whereas the least frequent were scowling and sucking.…”