Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jun;64(6):1249-1254.
doi: 10.1007/s00234-021-02863-z. Epub 2021 Nov 25.

3.0 Tesla normative diffusivity in 3rd trimester fetal brain

Maria Segev  1   2 , Bella Djurabayev  3 , Eldad Katorza  4   5 , Gal Yaniv  3   4 , Chen Hoffmann  3   4 , Shai Shrot  3   4
Affiliations

3.0 Tesla normative diffusivity in 3rd trimester fetal brain

Maria Segev et al. Neuroradiology. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the developing fetus provide valuable information on the diagnosis and prognosis of prenatal brain pathologies. Normative ADC data has been previously established in 1.5 T MR scanners but lacking in 3.0 T scanners. Our objective was to measure ADC values in various brain areas in a cohort of normal singleton fetuses scanned in a 3.0 T MR scanner.

Methods: DWI (diffusion-weighted imaging) was performed in 47 singleton fetuses with normal or questionably abnormal results on sonography followed by normal structural MR imaging. ADC values were measured in cerebral lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal lobes), basal ganglia, and pons. Regression analysis was used to examine gestational age-related changes in regional ADC.

Results: Median gestational age was 30.1 weeks (range, 26-34 weeks). There was a significant effect of region on ADC values, whereby ADC values were highest in cerebral lobes (parietal > frontal > temporal lobes), compared with basal ganglia. The lowest values were found in the pons. On regression analysis, there was a decrease in ADC values in basal ganglia and pons with increasing gestational age. ADC values in frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes were stable in our cohort.

Conclusion: Regional brain ADC values in 3.0 T scanners are comparable with previously reported values in 1.5 T scanners, with similar changes over gestational age. Using 3.0 T scanners is increasing worldwide. For fetal imaging, establishing normal ADC values is critical as DWI enables a sensitive and quantitative technique to evaluate normal and abnormal brain development.

Keywords: Apparent diffusion coefficient; Development; MRI; Normogram.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Schönberg N, Weisstanner C, Wiest R et al (2020) The influence of various cerebral and extracerebral pathologies on apparent diffusion coefficient values in the fetal brain. J Neuroimaging 30(4):477–485. https://doi.org/10.1111/jon.12727 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Moradi B, Nezhad ZA, Saadat NS, Shirazi M, Borhani A, Kazemi MA (2020) Apparent diffusion coefficient of different areas of brain in foetuses with intrauterine growth restriction. Polish J Radiol 85(1):e301–e308. https://doi.org/10.5114/pjr.2020.96950 - DOI
    1. Victoria T, Johnson AM, Edgar JC, Zarnow DM, Vossough A, Jaramillo D (2016) Comparison between 1.5-T and 3-T MRI for fetal imaging: is there an advantage to imaging with a higher field strength? Am J Roentgenol. 206(1):195–201. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.14.14205 - DOI
    1. Chapman T, Alazraki AL, Eklund MJ (2018) A survey of pediatric diagnostic radiologists in North America: current practices in fetal magnetic resonance imaging. Pediatr Radiol 48(13):1924–1935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-018-4236-3 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Chartier AL, Bouvier MJ, McPherson DR, Stepenosky JE, Taysom DA, Marks RM (2019) The safety of maternal and fetal MRI at 3 T. Am J Roentgenol 213(5):1170–1173. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.19.21400 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources