Sonographic study of the development of fetal corpus callosum in a Chinese population.
OBJECTIVE
The observation of fetal corpus callosum (CC) is important for the prenatal sonographic assessment of fetal central nervous system development. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of normal Chinese fetal CC.


METHODS
CC measurements were performed using high-resolution transabdominal sonography on 622 Chinese fetuses between 16 and 39 weeks' gestation. The correlation between CC size and gestational age was investigated.


RESULTS
The fetal CC length increased in a linear fashion during pregnancy. The length of the CC as a function of gestational age was expressed by the following regression equation: length (mm) = -9.567 + 1.495 x gestational age (weeks) (r = 0.932, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of normal CC appearance may help identify developmental anomalies and enable accurate prenatal counseling.
Zhang
Hai-chun
HC
Department of Ultrasound, Maternal and Children Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou Medical College, No 13, Guang Yuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Yang
Jie
J
Chen
Zhong-ping
ZP
Ma
Xiao-yan
XY
D044466:Asian People; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal