Development of the prosencephalic structures, ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia and thalamus at 11 + 3 to 13 + 6 gestational weeks on 3D transvaginal ultrasound including normative data

R Altmann; T Rechberger; C Altmann; L Hirtler; I Scharnreitner; P Stelzl; S Enengl

doi:10.1007/s00429-023-02679-y

Development of the prosencephalic structures, ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia and thalamus at 11 + 3 to 13 + 6 gestational weeks on 3D transvaginal ultrasound including normative data

Brain Struct Funct. 2023 Dec;228(9):2089-2101. doi: 10.1007/s00429-023-02679-y. Epub 2023 Sep 15.

Authors

R Altmann¹, T Rechberger², C Altmann³, L Hirtler⁴, I Scharnreitner², P Stelzl², S Enengl²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Endocrinology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz and Krankenhausstraße 26-30, 4020, Linz, Austria. reinhard.altmann@me.com.
² Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Endocrinology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz and Krankenhausstraße 26-30, 4020, Linz, Austria.
³ Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz and Krankenhausstrasse 26-30, 4020, Linz, Austria.
⁴ Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

Objectives: To show the development of ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia and thalamus/hypothalamus in week 11 + 3 to 13 + 6 by transvaginal 3D ultrasound.

Methods: To visualize the prosencephalic structures surrounding the 3rd ventricle, 285 three-dimensional ultrasound volume blocks from 402 fetuses examined were selected in a prospective transvaginal 3D study to compare ultrasound images of ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia, thalamus/hypothalamus with embryological sections. In addition, measurements of the described structures were made in 104 fetuses to quantify the embryological development.

Results: The sonomorphologic characteristics of ganglionic eminence, basal ganglia and thalamus/hypothalamus are described in 71% of the fetuses examined. Measurements of the structures in 57% of the fetuses, show the following results: axGE ap = 0.17 + 0.112*CRL; axGE/I = 0.888 + 0.048*CRL; axGE/BG = 0.569 + 0.041*CRL; coGE/BG = 0.381 + 0.048*CRL; coTh lat = - 0.002 + 0.135*CRL; coTh/HyT = 3.68 + 0.059*CRL; co3.V lat = 0.54 + 0.008*CRL.

Conclusion: Transvaginal 3D neurosonography allows visualization and measurement of normal structures in the fetal prosencephalon at 11 + 3 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation (GW) including details of ganglionic eminence (GE), basal ganglia (BG), and thalamus/hypothalamus (Th/HyT). Further scientific work is needed before using the results to decide on pathological changes in patients.

Keywords: 3D ultrasound; Fetal brain; First trimester; Ganglionic eminence; Neurosonography; Transvaginal ultrasound.

MeSH terms

Basal Ganglia* / diagnostic imaging
Female
Fetus / diagnostic imaging
Gestational Age
Humans
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Thalamus / diagnostic imaging
Ultrasonography, Prenatal* / methods