ObjectiveTo establish reference intervals for the fetal cisterna magna volume by means of
two-dimensional (2D) method using the multiplanar mode of three-dimensional
ultrasonography.Materials and MethodsCross-sectional study with 224 healthy pregnant women between the 17th and 29th
gestational weeks. The volume was automatically obtained by multiplying the three
major axes in axial and sagittal planes by the constant 0.52. Polynomial
regression was utilized to establish the correlation between fetal cisterna magna
volume and gestational age, with adjustments by coefficient of determination
(R2). Reliability and agreement were obtained by intraclass
correlation coefficient (ICC) and limits of agreement, respectively.ResultsMean fetal cisterna volume with the 2D method ranged from 0.71 ± 0.19
cm3 to 4.18 ± 0.75 cm3 at the 17th and 29th weeks,
respectively. The authors observed a good correlation between fetal cisterna magna
volume and gestational age (R2 = 0.67), excellent intraobserver
reliability and agreement with ICC = 0.89 and limits of agreement 95% (-52.0;
51.8), respectively, and low interobserver reliability and agreement with ICC =
0.64 and limits of agreement 95% (-110.1; 84.6), respectively.ConclusionReference intervals for fetal cisterna magna volume by means of 2D method using
the multiplanar mode of three-dimensional ultrasonography were established and
presented excellent intraobserver reliability and agreement.