Corpus Callosum Length and Cerebellar Vermian Height in Fetal Growth Restriction

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Growth-restricted fetuses may have changes in their neuroanatomical structures that can be detected in prenatal imaging. We aim to compare corpus callosal length (CCL) and cerebellar vermian height (CVH) measurements between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and control fetuses and to correlate them with cerebral Doppler velocimetry in growth-restricted fetuses. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This was a prospective cohort of FGR after 20 weeks of gestation with ultrasound measurements of CCL and CVH. Control cohort was assembled from fetuses without FGR who had growth ultrasound after 20 weeks of gestation. We compared differences of CCL or CVH between FGR and controls. We also tested for the correlations of CCL and CVH with middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) and vertebral artery (VA) PI in the FGR group. CCL and CVH measurements were adjusted by head circumference (HC). <b><i>Results:</i></b> CCL and CVH were obtained in 68 and 55 fetuses, respectively. CCL/HC was smaller in FGR fetuses when compared to control fetuses (difference = 0.03, 95% CI: [0.02, 0.04], <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). CVH/HC was larger in FGR fetuses compared to NG fetuses (difference = 0.1, 95% CI: [−0.01, 0.02], <i>p</i> = &lt; 0.001). VA PI multiples of the median were inversely correlated with CVH/HC (rho = −0.53, <i>p</i> = 0.007), while CCL/HC was not correlated with VA PI. Neither CCL/HC nor CVH/HC was correlated with MCA PI. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> CCL/HC and CVH/HC measurements show differences in growth-restricted fetuses compared to a control cohort. We also found an inverse relationship between VA PI and CVH/HC. The potential use of neurosonography assessment in FGR assessment requires continued explorations.