Differentiation of proliferating from resting cartilage in human fetal nasal septum by magnetic resonance imaging.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been used for the characterization of human fetal nasal septa. The images were made from fixed fetal heads from spontaneous abortions of different gestational age. The "in-plane" resolution of the images (at a pixel size of 312 x 312 microns2) allowed a detailed anatomical analysis of the midfacial structures of the fetal heads. In T2-weighted midsagittal sections a low signal intensity region of the septal cartilage could be seen. This part was shown to consist of immature proliferating cartilage by histochemical methods and contrasted to mature resting tissue at the rim of the septum. Direct comparison of the MR images with histological sections demonstrated the potential of MRI in pre- and postoperative evaluation of patients requiring surgical reconstruction of either traumatic or congenital defects of the face.
Allegrini
P R
PR
Ciba Geigy Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
van Velzen
D
D
van Loosen
J
J
Bullock
G R
GR
D002455:Cell Division; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*