Metopic suture in fetuses with holoprosencephaly at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the development of the metopic suture in fetuses with holoprosencephaly at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation.


METHODS
Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound was used to measure the height and gap between the frontal bones in 200 normal fetuses and in nine fetuses with holoprosencephaly at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 (median, 12) weeks of gestation.


RESULTS
In the 200 normal fetuses, the height of the frontal bones increased significantly with gestation from a mean of 2.5 mm (5(th) and 95(th) centiles: 1.9 mm and 3.3 mm) at 11 weeks to 6.1 mm (5(th) and 95(th) centiles: 4.6 mm and 8.1 mm) at 13 + 6 weeks. The gap between the two frontal bones did not change significantly with gestation (mean: 1.5 mm; 5(th) centile: 1.0 mm; 95(th) centile: 2.0 mm). In fetuses with holoprosencephaly, the height of the frontal bones was significantly larger (mean difference, 5.6 SDs; range, 3.9-7.7 SDs; P < 0.0001) and the gap was significantly smaller (mean 0.2 mm, range 0-0.8 mm; P < 0.0001) than those in normal fetuses.


CONCLUSIONS
Holoprosencephaly is associated with an accelerated development of the frontal bones and premature closure of the metopic suture.
Faro
C
C
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Wegrzyn
P
P
Benoit
B
B
Chaoui
R
R
Nicolaides
K H
KH
D000328:Adult; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D016142:Holoprosencephaly / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*