title: Collaborative study on 3-dimensional sonography for the prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) anomalies by 2-dimensional sonography is challenging because of difficulties in obtaining complete visualization of the fetal brain during routine examinations, which is necessary for identification of its axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. Three-dimensional (3D) sonography has been introduced as a tool for studying the fetal CNS because of its ability to facilitate examinations of the fetal brain. The objective of this study was to determine inter-center agreement in diagnosing CNS defects by review of 3D volume data sets.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 11 centers with expertise in 3D fetal neurosonography. A total of 217 fetuses with and without confirmed CNS defects were scanned after 18 weeks' gestation, and their volume data sets were uploaded onto a centralized file transfer protocol server and later analyzed by all of the centers. Intercenter agreement was determined using a κ statistic for multiple raters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All volumes were made anonymous and sent to the centers for blinded analysis with the exception of the data sets they had themselves previously uploaded. For identification of fetuses with CNS defects, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and false-positive and -negative rates were 93.3%, 96.5%, 96.5%, 93.3%, 3.5%, and 6.7%, respectively. No differences were found in the efficacy of the diagnostic indices according to either the route of acquisition (transabdominal or trans-vaginal) or the gestational age at diagnosis (18-24 or >24 weeks). Intercenter agreement was excellent (κ = 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among centers with technical expertise, remote review of 3D sonographic volumes of the fetal CNS resulted in an accurate and reliable method for diagnosis of fetal brain malformations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Fatebenefratelli S. Giovanni Calabita Hospital, Isola Tiberina 89, 00186 Rome, Italy. giuseppe.rizzo@uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Alfred Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Abuhamad
authors.forename: Beryl R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Benacerraf
authors.forename: Rabih
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaoui
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.forename: Vincenzo D'
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Addario
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Luis T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Mercé Alberto
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pooh
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sepulveda
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sinkovskaya
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viñals
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pietrolucci
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arduini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*