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Normative data for fetal cisterna magna length measurement between 18 and 24 weeks of pregnancy

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine normative data for fetal cisterna magna length (CML) measurement in a Brazilian population.

Methods

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study on 3,862 normal singleton pregnancies between the 18th and 24th weeks of pregnancy. Fetal CML was measured in the axial plane of the fetal head, at lateral ventricle level, including the cavum septum pellucidum, thalamus, third ventricle, and transverse cerebellar diameter. The anteroposterior measurement was made between the posterior border of the cerebellar vermis and the internal face of the occipital bone. To assess the correlation between CML and gestational age (GA), polynomial equations were calculated, with adjustments using determination coefficient (R 2).

Results

The mean CML ranged from 4.29 ± 0.93 mm at 18 to 18 + 6 weeks to 5.58 ± 1.23 mm at 24 to 24 + 6 weeks of pregnancy. There was a good correlation between CML and GA, best represented by a linear equation: CML = 0.535 + 0.208*GA (R 2 = 0.084).

Conclusion

We established normative data for fetal CML in the second trimester of pregnancy, in a large Brazilian population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Referral Center for Teaching of Diagnostic Imaging (CETRUS), Rua Carlos Weber, 956, apto. 113 Visage, Alto da Lapa, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 05303-000

    Edward Araujo Júnior, Claudio Rodrigues Pires & Sebastião Marques Zanforlin Filho

  2. Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Edward Araujo Júnior & Liliam Cristine Rolo

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (DGO-FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Wellington P. Martins

  4. Ultrasonography and Retraining Medical School of Ribeirão Preto (EURP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Wellington P. Martins

Authors
  1. Edward Araujo Júnior
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  2. Wellington P. Martins
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  3. Liliam Cristine Rolo
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  4. Claudio Rodrigues Pires
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  5. Sebastião Marques Zanforlin Filho
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Correspondence to Edward Araujo Júnior.

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Araujo Júnior, E., Martins, W.P., Rolo, L.C. et al. Normative data for fetal cisterna magna length measurement between 18 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. Childs Nerv Syst 30, 9–12 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-013-2298-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-013-2298-y

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