Internal Structures of the Developing Brain Assessed by HDlive Imaging

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this observational descriptive study of morphological research is to assessthe nervous structures within the embryonic and early fetal brains not previously documented in literature by HDlive and Silhouette® modes.STUDY DESIGN: A total of 26 subjects were examined in vivo, i.e. 15 embryos and 11 fetuses in thefirst trimester of pregnancy (7 to 13 gestational weeks (GW)), using a transvaginal ultrasound using aVoluson E10, BT 15 scanner (GE Healthcare, Zipf, Austria).RESULTS: The clear visualization of the brain structures by HDlive rendering mode was possible in all26 selected optimal volumes. The most representative images for each week of gestation are shown. At7 GW the ultrasound semiology of the brain is simple. The choroid plexuses can be seen in the 4thventricle at 8 GW and in the lateral ventricles at 9 GW by HDlive mode. At 9 GW the brain is developedenough so that the walls of the cerebral hemispheres, the ventricular system and the rhombic lips couldbe visualized by HDlive mode. At 10 GW we depicted the ganglionic eminences within the brain byHDlive mode. At 11 GW the thalamus was noticed. At 12 GW and 13 GW, HDlive images of choroidplexus asymmetry and choroid plexuses cysts are shown.CONCLUSIONS: The HDlive combined with Silhouette®mode can provide almost natural images of theinternal structures of the embryonic and early fetal brain. Small-sized nervous structures such as theganglionic eminences can be visualized using these facilities.