Defining the spatial relationships between eight anatomic planes in the 11+6 to 13+6 weeks fetus: a pilot study

Abstract

To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the possible spatial relationships between eight two-dimensional anatomic planes in the 11+6 to 13+6 weeks fetus, utilizing a standardized approach. Defining these spatial relationships may serve as the first step for the potential future development of automation software for fetal anatomic assessment at 11+6 to 13+6 weeks.

Reference Values for the Right and Left Fetal Choroid Plexus at 11 to 13 Weeks

“…), the intra‐rater variability for this sonologist was determined. This analysis was performed retrospectively on 25 stored volume data sets using 4D View version 10.5 software (GE Healthcare), in which the plane of the butterfly was generated by navigating through the volume using the midsagittal volume technique 11 . Subsequently the length, area, and circumference were measured unilaterally 3 times on each of the 25 fetuses.…”

“…This analysis was performed retrospectively on 25 stored volume data sets using 4D View version 10.5 software (GE Healthcare), in which the plane of the butterfly was generated by navigating through the volume using the midsagittal volume technique. 11 Subsequently the length, area, and circumference were measured unilaterally 3 times on each of the 25 fetuses. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to establish the intra-rater variability for the sonologist in all 3 parameters.…”

“…Recently, Lachmann et al 9 addressed the role of the fetal posterior fossa in the early recognition of Dandy‐Walker malformations, and Loureiro et al 10 evaluated the lateral ventricles in cases of fetal aneuploidy. In addition, the spatial relationships between the plane of the fetal abdominal circumference to the planes of the fetal biparietal diameter and choroid plexus have been established 11 …”

“…In addition, the spatial relationships between the plane of the fetal abdominal circumference to the planes of the fetal biparietal diameter and choroid plexus have been established. 11 The human brain is known to exhibit functional laterality, with the left hemisphere dominant for language and logical thinking in most people and the right hemisphere dominant for emotion, spatial attention, and nonverbal thinking. 12 Evidence exists in support of cerebral and behavioral asymmetries, as early as at or before birth, in which most fetuses show more right-than left-arm movement at 10 weeks' gestation.…”