What does the normal fetal face look like? MR imaging of the developing mandible and nasal cavity

Prenatal diagnosis of micrognathia: a systematic review

“…Furthermore, in the study of Lu et al, the minimum value of IFA was not less than 60° ( 36 ). The other four studies with regression analysis showed that the IFA was independent of GA and CRL, and the IFA of normal fetuses ranged from 50.3° to 86.1°, suggesting that the normal IFA angle can be determined during pregnancy ( 24 , 33 , 38 , 40 ). Overall, the IFA range always exceeded 50° throughout pregnancy.…”

“…In Table 2 , the studies' characteristics are presented. Nineteen articles described cross-sectional studies (76 percent) ( 15 – 17 , 19 – 26 , 28 – 33 , 36 , 40 ), 4 (16 percent) were case-control studies ( 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 ), and 2 (8 percent) were cohort studies ( 27 , 38 ). Fifteen studies (60 percent) had a prospective design ( 15 – 17 , 20 – 28 , 30 , 31 , 36 , 40 ), 9 (36 percent) had a retrospective design ( 20 , 33 – 35 , 37 – 39 ), and one (4 percent) had both prospective and retrospective design ( 32 ).…”

“…Fifteen studies (60 percent) had a prospective design ( 15 – 17 , 20 – 28 , 30 , 31 , 36 , 40 ), 9 (36 percent) had a retrospective design ( 20 , 33 – 35 , 37 – 39 ), and one (4 percent) had both prospective and retrospective design ( 32 ). Thirty-two percent of the studies ( n = 8) were performed in USA ( 21 – 23 , 29 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 ), and the remaining studies were performed in China ( n = 4) ( 20 , 25 , 36 , 40 ), Israel ( n = 3) ( 26 , 28 , 38 ), Netherlands ( n = 3) ( 27 , 30 , 31 ), UK ( n = 1) ( 15 ), France ( n = 1) ( 24 ), Italy ( n = 1) ( 16 ), Belgium( n = 1) ( 17 ), Germany ( n = 1) ( 19 ), Spain ( n = 1) ( 32 ), and Austria ( n = 1) ( 33 ). From 25 studies included in the qualitative synthesis, 14 studies (56 percent) used two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound for prenatal examination of fetuses ( 15 – 17 , 19 – 23 , 26 , 28 , 31 , 36 , 39 , 40 ), 4 (16 percent) used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ( 33 – 35 , 38 ), 5 (20 percent) used three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound, 1 (4 percent) used both 2D ultrasound and MRI ( 37 ), 1 (4 percent) used both 2D and 3D ultrasound ( 32 ).…”

“…Thirty-two percent of the studies ( n = 8) were performed in USA ( 21 – 23 , 29 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 ), and the remaining studies were performed in China ( n = 4) ( 20 , 25 , 36 , 40 ), Israel ( n = 3) ( 26 , 28 , 38 ), Netherlands ( n = 3) ( 27 , 30 , 31 ), UK ( n = 1) ( 15 ), France ( n = 1) ( 24 ), Italy ( n = 1) ( 16 ), Belgium( n = 1) ( 17 ), Germany ( n = 1) ( 19 ), Spain ( n = 1) ( 32 ), and Austria ( n = 1) ( 33 ). From 25 studies included in the qualitative synthesis, 14 studies (56 percent) used two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound for prenatal examination of fetuses ( 15 – 17 , 19 – 23 , 26 , 28 , 31 , 36 , 39 , 40 ), 4 (16 percent) used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ( 33 – 35 , 38 ), 5 (20 percent) used three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound, 1 (4 percent) used both 2D ultrasound and MRI ( 37 ), 1 (4 percent) used both 2D and 3D ultrasound ( 32 ). The prenatal diagnosis of micrognathia can be performed as early as possible in the first trimester, while the second and third trimester of pregnancy were the main prenatal diagnosis period.…”

“…The jaw index was then calculated as follows: APD/biparietal diameter × 100. Of the 25 included studies, 5 measured the APD ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 33 , 38 ) and 3 measured the TD of fetuses ( 16 , 20 , 22 ). All studies showed both APD and TD were positively correlated with GA. Zalel et al reported that, in healthy fetuses at 11–31 weeks, there was a positive correlation between APD/TD and GA ( 28 ).…”