Corpus callosum differences assessed by fetal MRI in late-onset intrauterine growth restriction and its association with neurobehavior.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate corpus callosum (CC) development by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in late-onset intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses compared to appropriate for gestational age and its association with neurobehavioral outcome.


METHODS
One hundred and seventeen late-onset IUGR and 73 control fetuses were imaged using a 3T MRI scanner at term, obtaining T2 half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo anatomical slices. CC length, thickness, total area and the areas after a subdivision in 7 portions were assessed. Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale test was performed on IUGR newborns at 42 ± 1 weeks.


RESULTS
IUGR fetuses showed significantly smaller CC (Total CC Area IUGR: 1.3996 ± 0.26 vs. AGA: 1.664 ± 0.31; p < 0.01) and smaller subdivision areas as compared with controls. The differences were slightly more pronounced in fetuses with very low birth weight and/or abnormal brain and/or abnormal uterine Doppler. CC measurements were significantly associated with neurobehavioral outcome in IUGR cases.


CONCLUSIONS
CC development was significantly altered in late-onset IUGR fetuses and correlated with worse neurobehavioral performance. CC could be further explored as a potential imaging biomarker to predict abnormal neurodevelopment in pregnancies at risk.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department, Institut Clínic de Ginecologia, Obstetrícia i Neonatologia (ICGON); Fetal and Perinatal Medicine Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Gabriela
G
Egaña-Ugrinovic
Magdalena
M
Sanz-Cortés
Constanza
C
Couve-Pérez
Francesc
F
Figueras
Eduard
E
Gratacós
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies