title: Fetal brain MRI: segmentation and biometric analysis of the posterior fossa.
abstract: This paper presents a novel approach to fetal magnetic resonance image segmentation and biometric analysis of the posterior fossa's midline structures. We developed a semi-automatic segmentation method (based on a region growing technique) and tested the algorithm on images of 104 normal fetuses. Using the segmented regions of interest (posterior fossa, vermis, and brainstem), we computed four relative area ratios. Statistical and clinical analysis of our results showed that the relative development of these structures appears to be independent of pregnancy term. In an additional study of 23 pathological cases, one of the four measurements was always significantly different from the corresponding value observed in normal cases.
authors.affiliation: Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Centre de Recherches de Royallieu, U.M.R. 6600 Biomécanique et Génie biomédical, BP 20529, F-60205 Compiegne, France. isabelle.claude@utc.fr
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Claude
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Daire
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sebag
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique