title: Differences in cortical development assessed by fetal MRI in late-onset intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate cortical development parameters by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in late-onset intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses and normally grown fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 52 IUGR and 50 control fetuses were imaged using a 3T MRI scanner at 37 weeks of gestational age. T2 half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo anatomical acquisitions were obtained in 3 planes. Cortical sulcation (fissures depth corrected by biparietal diameter), brain volumetry, and asymmetry indices were assessed by means of manual delineation and compared between cases and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Late-onset IUGR fetuses had significantly deeper measurements in the left insula (late-onset IUGR: 0.293 vs control: 0.267; P = .02) and right insula (0.379 vs 0.318; P < .01) and the left cingulate fissure (0.096 vs 0.087; P = .03) and significantly lower intracranial (441.25 cm(3) vs 515.82 cm(3); P < .01), brain (276.47 cm(3) vs 312.07 cm(3); P < .01), and left opercular volumes (2.52 cm(3) vs 3.02 cm(3); P < .01). IUGR fetuses showed significantly higher right insular asymmetry indices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late-onset IUGR fetuses had a different pattern of cortical development assessed by MRI, supporting the existence of in utero brain reorganization. Cortical development could be useful to define fetal brain imaging-phenotypes characteristic of IUGR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Institut Clínic de Ginecologia, Obstetrícia i Neonatologia, Fetal and Perinatal Medicine Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egaña-Ugrinovic
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz-Cortes
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Figueras
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bargalló
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gratacós
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: brain volumetry; cortical sulcation; fetal brain imaging