Feasibility of extended ultrasound examination of the fetal brain between 24 and 37 weeks’ gestation in low-risk pregnancies

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To assess the feasibility of identifying fetal brain structures and anatomic landmarks included in the anterior complex (AC) and posterior complex (PC), as well as the proximal hemisphere (PH). Methods This was a prospective observational multicenter study of healthy pregnant women evaluated by ultrasound screening at 24 to 36 + 6 weeks’ gestation. Six physicians performed transabdominal ultrasound, to obtain the planes required to visualize the AC, PC, and PH. Blind analysis by an expert and non-expert operator in fetal neurosonography was used to assess the structures included in each plane view. Results In the population studied (n=366), structure detection rates for AC were over 95 %, with an agreement of 96 % when comparing expert and non-expert examiners. Visualization of the corpus callosum crossing the midline was detected in over 97 and 96 % of cases for the AC and PC, respectively, with an agreement of over 96 %. The PH plane, particularly through the posterior access via the mastoid fontanelle, enabled visualization of the proximal anatomical structures in almost 95 % of cases. Detection of the corpus callosum through the AC and PC, both proximal/distal germinal matrix (AC) and proximal Sylvian fissure through the anterior access (PH) in the 24–25 + 6, 26–31 + 6 and 32–36 + 6 weeks’ gestation groups were successful in over 96 % of cases with high level of agreement. Conclusions Inclusion of AC, PC, and PH later in pregnancy proves feasible with a high level of agreement between both expert and non-expert operators.