Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging of fetal brain fissures in the growth restricted fetus

by Sofie C. Husen, Irene V. Koning, Attie T. J. I. Go, Anne W. van Graafeiland, Sten P. Willemsen, Irene A. L. Groenenberg, Régine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen

To examine differences in growth trajectories of fetal brain fissures in the growth restricted fetus (FGR) compared to controls.

We selected a subgroup of 227 women with a singleton pregnancy from the Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort. Participants received three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) examinations of the fetal brain at 22, 26 and 32 weeks of gestational age (GA). The left and right Sylvian, insula and parieto-occipital fissures (POF) were measured in standardized planes. Linear mixed models with adjustment for potential confounders were applied to estimate differences between the trajectories of brain fissure depth measurements of FGR and controls.

22 FGR and 172 controls provided 31 and 504 3D-US respectively for longitudinal brain fissure depth measurements. Success rates for the Sylvian and insula depth measurements were over 80% and for POF over 62% at all GA. In FGR compared to controls, the trajectory of the right Sylvian fissure depth was significantly decreased (ß = -4.30, 95%CI = -8.03;-0.56, p = 0.024) while its growth rate was slightly increased (ß = 0.02, 95%CI = 0.00;0.04, p = 0.04), after adjustment for GA, head circumference, gender, educational level and parity.

The small differences in brain fissure measurements between 22 and 32 weeks GA in FGR warrant further investigation in larger cohorts with postnatal follow-up.