title: Measuring the perimeter and area of the Sylvian fissure in fetal brain during normal pregnancies using 3-dimensional ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the normal perimeter and area of the three orthogonal planes (axial, sagittal and coronal) of the fetal Sylvian fissure along pregnancy using 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound volumes of fetal head were acquired prospectively in 55 fetuses between 12 and 33 gestational weeks. All volumes were analyzed offline by two examiners separately. The largest axial, sagittal and coronal planes of the Sylvian fissure were identified, and the area and perimeter were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measurements of the Sylvian fissure were demonstrated in 54 out of 55 volumes (98%). In all three planes, a linear growth was demonstrated along gestation. All measurements significantly correlated to gestational age and head circumference (p < 0.01). The Sylvian fissure was found to grow asymmetrically, more at the anterior-posterior direction than laterally or to the inferior-superior directions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Sylvian fissure grows linearly and has a distinct form in each developmental stage. The fissure is identifiable and measurable as early as 12 weeks gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center (Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University), Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gindes
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center (Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University), Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Shir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malach
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center (Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University), Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weisz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center (Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University), Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Achiron
authors.affiliation: Unit of Fetal Neurology and Prenatal Diagnosis, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wolfson Medical Center (Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University), Holon, Israel.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Leibovitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center (Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University), Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weissmann-Brenner
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal