Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

MRI of the olfactory bulbs and sulci in human fetuses

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background: There is limited knowledge of the MRI pattern of the development of fetal olfactory bulbs and sulci. Objective: To describe the MRI appearance of olfactory bulbs and sulci in normal in vivo fetuses according to gestational age. Materials and methods: Olfactory bulbs and sulci were retrospectively assessed on brain MRI examinations of 88 normal fetuses between 24 and 39 weeks gestational age. Two reference centres were involved in the study and both used routine protocols that included axial and coronal T2- and T1-weighted sequences at 1.5 T. The results were compared both with the commonly used neuropathological data in the literature and with personal neuropathological data. Pearson’s chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test were performed. One case of olfactory agenesis associated with CHARGE syndrome was identified. Results: T2-weighted coronal sequences were the most sensitive for detecting olfactory bulbs and sulci. Olfactory sulci were significantly better detected from 30 weeks onwards (90.9–100%; P<0.001). MRI showed a posteroanterior development of these sulci. Olfactory bulbs were better detected from 30 to 34 weeks (80–90.9%; P<0.002). Comparison with neuropathological data confirmed the posteroanterior development of the sulci and showed an important delay in detection of the olfactory structures (bulbs and sulci). No difference was observed between the two centres involved. Conclusions: To date, fetal MRI can depict olfactory sulci from 30 weeks gestational age onwards and olfactory bulbs from 30 to 34 weeks gestational age. This preliminary reference standard is useful to assess the normality of the olfactory system and to diagnose olfactory agenesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
F ig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Smith FW, Adam AH, Phillips WD (1983) NMR imaging in pregnancy. Lancet 1:61–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Merzoug V, Ferey S, Andre C, et al (2002) Magnetic resonance imaging of the fetal brain. J Neuroradiol 29:76–90

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Girard N, Raybaud C, Gambarelli D, et al (2001) Fetal brain MR imaging. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 9:19–56

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Coakley FV, Glenn OA, Qayyum A, et al (2004) Fetal MRI: a developing technique for the developing patient. AJR Am J Roentgenol 182:243–252

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Girard N (2002) Fetal MR imaging. Eur Radiol 12:1869–1871

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kiefer B, Grassner J, Haussman R (1994) Image acquisition in a second with half Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo. J Magn Reson Imaging 4:86–87

    Google Scholar 

  7. Suski M, Takashima T, Kadoya M, et al (1989) MR imaging of olfactory bulbs and tract. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 10:955–957

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Youssem DM, Oguz KK, Li C (2001) Imaging of the olfactory system. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 22:456–472

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Held P, Seitz J, Fründ R, et al (2000) MRI detection of olfactory bulb and tract. J Neuroradiol 27:112–118

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Castillo M (2002) Imaging of the upper cranial nerves I, III–VII, and the cavernous sinuses. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 10:415–431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Truwit CL, Barkovich AJ, Grumbach MM, et al (1993) MR imaging of Kallmann syndrome, a genetic disorder of neuronal migration affecting the olfactory and genital systems. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 14:827–838

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Knorr JR, Ragland RL, Brown RS, et al (1993) Kallmann syndrome: MR findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 14:845–851

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Yousem DM, Turner WJ, Li C, et al (1993) Kallmann syndrome: MR evaluation of olfactory system. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 14:839–843

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Yousem DM, Geckle RJ, Bilker W, et al (1996) MR evaluation of patients with congenital hyposmia or anosmia. AJR Am J Roentgenol 166:439–443

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fuerxer F, Carlier R, Iffenecker C, et al (1996) Magnetic resonance imaging of the olfactory sulci in Kallmann syndrome. J Neuroradiol 23:223–230

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Klingmuller D, Dewes W, Krahe T, et al (1987) Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in patients with anosmia and hypothalamic hypogonadism (Kallmann’s syndrome). J Clin Endocrinol Metab 65:581–584

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bajaj S, Ammini AC, Marwaha R, et al (1993) Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Clin Radiol 48:122–124

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Abolmaali ND, Hietschold V, Vogl TJ, et al (2002) MR evaluation in patients with isolated anosmia since birth or early childhood. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 23:157–164

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Cheng L, Youssem DM, Doty RL, et al (1994) Neuroimaging in patients with olfactory dysfunction. AJR Am J Roentgenol 162:411–418

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Garel C, Chantrel E, Brisse H, et al (2001) Fetal cerebral cortex: normal gestational landmarks identified using prenatal MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 22:184–189

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Naidich TP, Grant JL, Altman N, et al (1994) The developing cerebral surface. Preliminary report on the patterns of sulcal and gyral maturation—anatomy, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 4:201–240

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Parent A, Carpenter MB (1996) Carpenter’s human neuroanatomy, 9th edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 748–756

    Google Scholar 

  23. Chi JG, Dooling EC, Gilles FH (1970) Gyral development of the human brain. Ann Neurol 1:86–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Adamsbaum C, Merzoug V, Andre Ch, et al (2002) Prenatal diagnostic of isolated posterior fossa anomalies: attempt at a simplified approach (in French). J Radiol 83:321–328

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Adamsbaum C, Moutard ML, Andre C, et al (2005) MRI of the fetal posterior fossa. Pediatr Radiol 35:124–140

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Garel C (2004) MRI of the fetal brain. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 217–236

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hummel T, Damm M, Vent J, et al (2003) Depth of olfactory sulcus and olfactory function. Brain Res 975:85–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bossy J (1980) Development of olfactory and related structures in staged human embryos. Anat Embryol 161:225–236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Humphrey T (1940) The development of the olfactory and accessory formations in human embryos and fetus. J Comp Neurol 73:431–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Lan LM, Yamashita Y, Tang Y, et al (2000) Normal fetal brain development: MR imaging with a half-Fourier rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement sequence. Radiology 215:205–210

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Vandermarcq P, Sakka M, Lapierre L (1996) Morphologie évolutive du lobe olfactif chez l’homme et quelques mammifères non humains. Chirurgie 121:241–252

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Schwanzel-Fukuda M, Bick D, Pfaff DW (1989) Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-expressing cells do not migrate normally in an inherited hypogonadal (Kallmann) syndrome. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 6:311–326

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Schwanzel-Fukuda M, Pfaff DW (1989) Origin of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons. Nature 338:161–164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Cohen MM Jr (2002) Malformations of the craniofacial region: evolutionary, embryonic, genetic, and clinical perspectives. Am J Med Genet 115:245–268

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Cohen MM Jr, Shiota K (2002) Teratogenesis of holoprosencephaly. Am J Med Genet 109:1–15

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tellier AL, Amiel J, Delezoide AL, et al (2000) Expression of the PAX2 gene in human embryos and exclusion in the CHARGE syndrome. Am J Med Genet 93:85–88

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Lin AE, Siebert JR, Graham JM Jr (1990) Central nervous system malformations in the CHARGE association. Am J Med Genet 37:304–310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contribution of Mme. Lenat and Mme. Trahand for corrections to the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Paris V, Faculté de Médecine, 82 Avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75674, Paris Cedex 14, France

    Robin Azoulay, Sophie Grabar, Gabriel Kalifa & Catherine Adamsbaum

  2. Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Paris, France

    Catherine Fallet-Bianco

  3. Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France

    Catherine Garel

Authors
  1. Robin Azoulay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Catherine Fallet-Bianco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Catherine Garel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sophie Grabar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gabriel Kalifa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Catherine Adamsbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine Adamsbaum.

Additional information

This paper was awarded the“Jean François GINESTY” prize by the French Academy of Medicine

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Azoulay, R., Fallet-Bianco, C., Garel, C. et al. MRI of the olfactory bulbs and sulci in human fetuses. Pediatr Radiol 36, 97–107 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-0030-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-0030-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation