title: Sphenofrontal distance on three-dimensional ultrasound in euploid and trisomy-21 fetuses at 16-24 weeks' gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the distance between the sphenoid and frontal bones on three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in euploid and trisomy-21 fetuses at 16-24 weeks' gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We acquired 3D volumes of the fetal profile from 80 normal and 30 trisomy-21 fetuses at 16-24 weeks' gestation. We used the multiplanar mode to obtain the mid-sagittal plane and measured the sphenofrontal distance as the shortest distance between the most anterior edge of the sphenoid bone and the lowest edge of the frontal bone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal fetuses, the sphenofrontal distance increased linearly with gestational age, from 15.1 mm at 16 weeks to 18.2 mm at 24 weeks. In fetuses with trisomy 21, the mean sphenofrontal distance delta value was significantly smaller than in normal cases (-3.447 mm (95% CI, -5.684 to -1.211 mm); P < 0.01). The sphenofrontal distance was below the 5(th) and 1(st) percentiles of the normal range in 29 (96.7%) and 27 (90.0%) trisomy-21 fetuses, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sphenofrontal distance is shorter at 16-24 weeks' gestation in fetuses with trisomy 21 than in normal fetuses. A reduction in the growth of the anterior cranial base contributes to the mid-facial hypoplasia observed in fetuses with trisomy 21. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossellu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fabietti
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boito
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Farronato
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'L. Mangiagalli', Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.affiliation: Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 3D ultrasound; second trimester; sphenofrontal distance; trisomy 21