Imaging fetal anatomy

Dawood, Yousif; Buijtendijk, Marieke F.J.; Shah, H.; Smit, Jan; Jacobs, Karl; Hagoort, Jaco; Oostra, Roelof‐Jan; Bourne, Tom; Hoff, Maurice J. B. van den; Bakker, Bernadette S. de

doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.023

Cited by 22 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 84 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This study also evaluates imaging data using the Carnegie collection [ 23 ] and expands on results from previous studies [ 1 , 3 ]. Dawood et al [ 24 ] highlighted the importance of ex utero imaging techniques, such as micro-CT and high-resolution MRI, to facilitate proper annotation of fetal structures in ultrasound scans of early first-trimester embryos and to improve detection of congenital anomalies in the developing embryo. From this point of view, our present study may help address these concerns and contribute to the improvement of the prenatal medicine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Femoral posture during embryonic and early fetal development: An analysis using landmarks on the cartilaginous skeletons of ex vivo human specimens

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The pre-axial border medially moves between the fetal and early postnatal periods, and the foot sole can be placed on the ground. Nonetheless, the precise timeline when this posture is achieved remains poorly understood. The hip joint is the most freely movable joint in the lower limbs and largely determines the lower-limb posture. The present study aimed to establish a timeline of lower-limb development using a precise measurement of femoral posture. Magnetic resonance images of 157 human embryonic samples (Carnegie stages [CS] 19–23) and 18 fetal samples (crown rump length: 37.2–225 mm) from the Kyoto Collection were obtained. Three-dimensional coordinates of eight selected landmarks in the lower limbs and pelvis were used to calculate the femoral posture. Hip flexion was approximately 14° at CS19 and gradually increased to approximately 65° at CS23; the flexion angle ranged from 90° to 120° during the fetal period. Hip joint abduction was approximately 78° at CS19 and gradually decreased to approximately 27° at CS23; the average angle was approximately 13° during the fetal period. Lateral rotation was greater than 90° at CS19 and CS21 and decreased to approximately 65° at CS23; the average angle was approximately 43° during the fetal period. During the embryonic period, three posture parameters (namely, flexion, abduction, and lateral rotation of the hip) were linearly correlated with each other, suggesting that the femoral posture at each stage was three-dimensionally constant and exhibited gradual and smooth change according to growth. During the fetal period, these parameters varied among individuals, with no obvious trend. Our study has merits in that lengths and angles were measured on anatomical landmarks of the skeletal system. Our obtained data may contribute to understanding development from anatomical aspects and provide valuable insights for clinical application.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Femoral posture during embryonic and early fetal development: An analysis using landmarks on the cartilaginous skeletons of ex vivo human specimens

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…57 One practical limitation of micro-CT is that due to the highresolution of the technique, the data files are large (approximately 50 GB per clinical patient) requiring large provision of storage for clinical use relative to other suitable techniques (ultra-high-field PMMRI <1GB per patient). 83,85 Overall, due to the relative higher-resolution, low cost, and quick scan times, micro-CT has clear advantages 71 and is an excellent alternative to CA. 48,57,84 It can be used to create detailed scale 3D models or augmented virtual reality to aid parental counselling and education of congenital anomalies/fetal development, 41,57,[83][84][85][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95]109 with a range of fetal gestations scanning from 6 weeks 87 to 24 weeks 84 with relatively short scanning times.…”

Section: Micro-focus Computed Tomographymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More advanced post-mortem imaging techniques including High-field (HF) PMMRI and Micro-focus Computed Tomography (micro-CT) imaging 50,71,82,83 have been developed for early fetal loss, primarily to address the combined issues of poor resolution, and low signal and contrast-to-noise ratios. 41,46,49,55,57,61,71,72,82,[84][85][86][87][88]…”

Section: Higher Resolution Imagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Less‐invasive autopsy for early pregnancy loss

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Autopsy investigations provide valuable information regarding fetal death that can assist in the parental bereavement process, and influence future pregnancies, but conventional autopsy is often declined by parents because of its invasive approach. This has led to the development of less‐invasive autopsy investigations based on imaging technology to provide a more accessible and acceptable choice for parents when investigating their loss. Whilst the development and use of more conventional clinical imaging techniques (radiographs, CT, MRI, US) are well described in the literature for fetuses over 20 weeks of gestational age, these investigations have limited diagnostic accuracy in imaging smaller fetuses. Techniques such as ultra‐high‐field MRI (>3T) and micro‐focus computed tomography have been shown to have higher diagnostic accuracy whilst still being acceptable to parents. By further developing and increasing the availability of these more innovative imaging techniques, parents will be provided with a greater choice of acceptable options to investigate their loss, which may in turn increase their uptake. We provide a narrative review focussing on the development of high‐resolution, non‐invasive imaging techniques to evaluate early gestational pregnancy loss.

show abstract

“…A promising alternative to autopsy is microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) [ 3 , 4 ], a technique that has already made its mark in non-medical industries, e.g., non-destructive precision engineering, ecology and geosciences [ 5 ]. Like conventional CT, it is an X-ray-based technology, but instead of a rotating gantry, micro-CT scanners have a fixed radiation source, while the samples are mounted on a rotating platform.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This technique is referred to as diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced CT (diceCT) [ 6 ]. Because staining time is directly related to diffusion speed, it takes longer in larger fetuses, ranging from hours to several weeks [ 5 ]. Because this method is non-destructive, the fetus can be returned to the parents as soon as scanning is complete or after the discoloration caused by the iodine has been reversed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfocus computed tomography for fetal postmortem imaging: an overview

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the last few years, fetal postmortem microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging has increased in popularity for both diagnostic and research purposes. Micro-CT imaging could be a substitute for autopsy, particularly in very early gestation fetuses for whom autopsy can be technically challenging and is often unaccepted by parents. This article provides an overview of the latest research in fetal postmortem micro-CT imaging with a focus on diagnostic accuracy, endovascular staining approaches, placental studies and the reversibility of staining. It also discusses new methods that could prove helpful for micro-CT of larger fetuses. While more research is needed, contrast-enhanced micro-CT has the potential to become a suitable alternative to fetal autopsy. Further research using this novel imaging tool could yield wider applications, such as its practise in imaging rare museum specimens.

show abstract

Imaging fetal anatomy

Cited by 22 publications

References 84 publications

Femoral posture during embryonic and early fetal development: An analysis using landmarks on the cartilaginous skeletons of ex vivo human specimens

Femoral posture during embryonic and early fetal development: An analysis using landmarks on the cartilaginous skeletons of ex vivo human specimens

Less‐invasive autopsy for early pregnancy loss

Microfocus computed tomography for fetal postmortem imaging: an overview

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About