Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2016, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 160-164.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2016.02.009

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MRI evaluation of fetal cervical spine length in normal second and third trimester of pregnancy

ZHAO Hui1, LIN Xiang-tao1, XIAO Lian-xiang1, WU Yong1, DONG Jin-ye1, ZHANG Zhong-he 2,TANG Yu-chun2,LIU Shu-wei2,WANG Guang-bing1   

  1. 1. Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute,Jinan 250012, China;  2. Research Center for Sectional and Imaging Anatomy, School of Medicine of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
  • Received:2014-08-16 Online:2016-03-25 Published:2016-04-14

Abstract:

Objective  Using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the normal fetal cervical spine length at different gestational ages,to investigate a more sensitive nomogram of fetal spine length and gestational ages.    Methods This research is a prospective study, Postmortem MR imaging was performed on 65 fetuses ranging from 16 to 42 gestational ages. 3D-T2WI of the whole spine was performed in sagittal plane and the images were reconstructed in the coronal , sagittal and axial planes to measure the length of the cervical spine segments and the 4th cervical vertebra in the midsagittal images. Liner regression equations were established.     Results     A statistically significant linear relationship was established between the lengths of cervical segments of the fetal spine and gestational ages, and the function were expressed by the regression as: Cervical length = 0.193+0.117×gestational age,R2 =0.94;The C4 height=-0.586+0.155×gestational age,R2 =0.94. At the same time, the development of the cervical segment and the 4th cervical vertebra is imbalanced. There were two peaks during growth stages,which were 23~26 gestational age and 31~34 weeks, respectively.    Conclusions    The fetal spine length appears as an easily acquired and valuable parameter, which strongly correlates with gestational age. Therefore it can be used to evaluate gestational age and to assess morphologic maturity of fetuses in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Key words: Fetal specimen, The length of the cervical spine, Growth and development, Magnetic resonance imaging