title: The fetal vermis, pons and brainstem: normal longitudinal development as shown by dedicated neurosonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the normal appearance and the growth of the fetal vermis, pons and midline brainstem by ultrasound from 18 weeks of gestation to term in order to produce developmental nomograms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial ultrasound examinations of the fetal brain were performed in 21 fetuses between 18 and 39 weeks of gestation every two weeks. A total of 173 examinations were done, 8.2 ± 5.2 examinations per fetus. A mid-sagittal plain of the brain was obtained either by transvaginal or transabdominal sonography. Antero-posterior, cranio-caudal diameters, and surface area of the pons and the vermis were measured. The surface area of the brain stem was also measured. Nomograms were produced according to Royston and Wright.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pons, vermis and brain stem grow in a linear fashion throughout pregnancy. The growth pattern correlates well with gestational age, biparietal diameter, head circumference and the cerebellar transverse diameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have provided nomograms for assessment of the fetal brainstem. The present information supplies tools for the accurate identification of fetal mid-hindbrain anomalies providing a solid basis for a multidisciplinary approach, management and counseling of these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Holon, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ginath
authors.forename: Tally
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lerman-Sagie
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haratz Krajden
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lev
authors.forename: Bina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cohen-Sacher
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malinger
mesh_terms: D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D049451:Nomograms; D011149:Pons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal