title: Neurosonographic assessment of the corpus callosum as imaging biomarker of abnormal neurodevelopment in late-onset fetal growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore corpus callosum (CC) developmental differences by ultrasound in late-onset small fetuses compared with adequate for gestational age (AGA) controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety four small (estimated fetal weight <10th centile) and 71 AGA fetuses were included. Small fetuses were further subdivided into fetal growth restriction (IUGR, n = 64) and small for gestational age (SGA, n = 30) based on poor perinatal outcome factors, that is, birth weight <3rd centile and/or abnormal cerebroplacental ratio and/or uterine artery Doppler. The entire cohort was scanned to assess CC by transvaginal neurosonography obtaining axial, coronal and midsagittal images. CC length, thickness, total area and the areas after a subdivision in 7 portions were evaluated by semiautomatic software. Furthermore, the weekly average growth of the CC in each study group was calculated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Small fetuses showed significantly shorter (small fetuses: 0.49 vs. AGA: 0.52; p < 0.01) and smaller CC (1.83 vs. 2.03; p < 0.01) with smaller splenium (0.47 vs. 0.55; p < 0.01) compared to controls. The CC growth rate was also reduced when compared to controls. Changes were more prominent in small fetuses with abnormal cerebroplacental Doppler suggesting fetal growth restriction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurosonographic assessment of CC showed significantly altered callosal development, suggesting in-utero brain reorganization in small fetuses. This data support the potential value of CC assessment by US to monitor brain development in fetuses at risk.
authors: Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), and University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Egaña-Ugrinovic
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Savchev
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Bazán-Arcos
authors: Bienvenido
authors: B
authors: Puerto
authors: Eduard
authors: E
authors: Gratacós
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Sanz-Cortés
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020567:Fetal Weight; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers