Aims and objectives
Sulcation is a sequential process of disproportionate rapid development of outer cortical surface than the inner white matter so that the cortex ends up in wrapping around and folding over itself ,hence forming cerebral sulci and respective gyri .These sulci and gyri become more evident during the course of foetal development and they constantly occupy relatively same locations ,which itself act as a precise reference.
The timing of the appearance of these different sulci in a foetus is -reliable estimate of gestational age and consequently...
Methods and materials
Study population:
Prospective study of 74 Antenatal mothers[26 of them are primi and 48 of them are multiparous](Fig.1) without riskfactors with ultrasonically labelled normal fetuses of gestational age of 22 – 36weeks(Fig.2), Antenatal mothers with fetuses showing normal findings on sonographic brain examinations who gives complete informed consent to do foetal MRI ,
Familial history of gyrational abnormalities,
history of epilepsy,
Obese mothers in whom ultrasound not useful in assessing foetus,
mothers with epilepsy,
family history of epilepsy .
Antenatal mothers with twin gestation ,pregnancy...
Results
This study provides an excellant timetable of the appearance of sulci with sequential stages (from one to six) of development of them with respect to gestational age and also Employs standardized protocols dedicated to the examination of the inutero foetal brain
This kind of evaluation of the developmental stages of sulcal formation using fetal MR images tends to allow the evaluation of fetal maturation in relation to gestational age during the second and third trimesters
Conclusion
Foetal MRI is indeed a potential screening tool in the second and third trimester fetuses who are at risk for brain anomalies.
The stages of the sulcal development derived from our study can be made in to a chart and can easily be monitored to evaluate brain maturation of foetuses.
References
Norman MG,
McGillivray BC,
Kalousek DK,
Hill A,
Poskitt KJ.
Congenital Malformations of the Brain: Pathological,
Embryological,Clinical,
Radiological and Genetic Aspects.
Oxford University Press: New York,
NY,
1995; 223–277.
Volpe JJ.
Neuronal proliferation,
migration,
organization and myelination.
In Neurology of the Newborn,
Volpe JJ (ed.).
W.
B.
Saunders: Philadelphia,
PA,
1995; 43–90.
Rolo LC,
Araujo Junior E,
Nardozza LM,
de Oliveira PS,
Ajzen SA,
Moron AF.
Development of fetal brain sulci and gyri: assessment through two and three-dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.
Arch GynecolObstet...