Christoph Schellen1, Schwartz Ernst2, Gerlinde M Gruber3, Elisabeth Mlczoch4, Michael Weber1, Peter C Brugger3, Barbara Ulm5, Georg Langs2, Ulrike Salzer-Muhar4, Daniela Prayer1, Gregor Kasprian6. 1. Division of Neuro- and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 2. Computational Image Analysis and Radiology Lab, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 3. Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Systematic Anatomy, Integrative Morphology Group, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 4. Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Heart Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 5. Division of Obstetrics and Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 6. Division of Neuro- and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: gregor.kasprian@meduniwien.ac.at.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Prenatal imaging has identified alterations of brain growth in fetuses with congenital heart disease. However, little is known about the timing of altered brain development and its occurrence in specific congenital heart disease subgroups. This magnetic resonance imaging study aimed to identify early (median, 25 gestational weeks [GW]) changes in fetal total brain (TBV), gray matter (GMV), and subcortical brain (SBV) volumes in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) cases in utero. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 Tesla) was performed in 24 fetuses who were diagnosed with TOF and 24 normal age-matched control fetuses (20-34 GW). TBV, GMV, SBV, intracranial cavity, cerebellar, ventricular, and external cerebrospinal fluid volumes were quantified by manual segmentation based on coronal T2-weighted sequences. Mixed model analyses of variance and t-tests were conducted to compare cases and control fetuses. RESULTS: TBV was significantly lower (P < .001) in early (<25 GW) and late TOF cases. Both GMV (P = .003) and SBV (P = .001) were affected. The GMV-to-SBV ratio declined in fetuses with TOF (P = .026). Compared with normal fetuses, ventricular volume was increased (P = .0048). External cerebrospinal fluid was enlarged in relation to head size (P < .001). Intracranial cavity volume (P = .314) and cerebellar volume (P = .074) were not significantly reduced in fetuses with TOF. CONCLUSION: TOF is associated with smaller volumes of gray and white matter and enlarged cerebrospinal fluid spaces. These changes are present at ≤25 GW and indicate altered fetal brain growth in this pathophysiologic entity during early stages of human brain development.
OBJECTIVE: Prenatal imaging has identified alterations of brain growth in fetuses with congenital heart disease. However, little is known about the timing of altered brain development and its occurrence in specific congenital heart disease subgroups. This magnetic resonance imaging study aimed to identify early (median, 25 gestational weeks [GW]) changes in fetal total brain (TBV), gray matter (GMV), and subcortical brain (SBV) volumes in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) cases in utero. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 Tesla) was performed in 24 fetuses who were diagnosed with TOF and 24 normal age-matched control fetuses (20-34 GW). TBV, GMV, SBV, intracranial cavity, cerebellar, ventricular, and external cerebrospinal fluid volumes were quantified by manual segmentation based on coronal T2-weighted sequences. Mixed model analyses of variance and t-tests were conducted to compare cases and control fetuses. RESULTS:TBV was significantly lower (P < .001) in early (<25 GW) and late TOF cases. Both GMV (P = .003) and SBV (P = .001) were affected. The GMV-to-SBV ratio declined in fetuses with TOF (P = .026). Compared with normal fetuses, ventricular volume was increased (P = .0048). External cerebrospinal fluid was enlarged in relation to head size (P < .001). Intracranial cavity volume (P = .314) and cerebellar volume (P = .074) were not significantly reduced in fetuses with TOF. CONCLUSION: TOF is associated with smaller volumes of gray and white matter and enlarged cerebrospinal fluid spaces. These changes are present at ≤25 GW and indicate altered fetal brain growth in this pathophysiologic entity during early stages of human brain development.
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