title: Quantification of total fetal brain volume using 3D MR imaging data acquired in utero.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interpretation of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the fetal brain in utero is primarily undertaken using 2D images to provide anatomical information about structural abnormalities. It is now possible to obtain 3D image acquisitions that allow measurement of fetal brain volumes that are potentially useful clinically. The aim of our current work is to provide reference values of total brain volumes obtained from a cohort of low risk fetuses with no abnormalities on ante-natal ultrasonography and in utero MR imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images from volume MR acquisitions of 132 fetuses were used to extract brain volumes by manual segmentation. Reproducibility and reliability were assessed by analysis of the results of two subgroups who had repeated measurements made by the primary and a secondary observer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intra-observer and inter-observer agreement was high with no statistically significant differences between and within observers (p = 0.476 and p = 0.427, respectively). The results of the brain volume assessments are presented graphically with mean and 95% prediction limits alongside estimates of normal growth rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have shown that fetal brain volumes can be reliably extracted from in utero MR (iuMR) imaging 3D datasets with a high degree of reproducibility. The resultant data could potentially be used as a reference tool in the clinical setting. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0133-1771
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Rahim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akram
authors.affiliation: ScHARR Clinical Trials and Research Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandefield
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paddock
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal