First‐trimester crown–rump length and embryonic volume of aneuploid fetuses measured in virtual reality

• Published in: Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology 2013-05, Vol.41 (5), p.521-525
• Main Authors: Baken, L., van Heesch, P. N. A. C. M., Wildschut, H. I. J., Koning, A. H. J., van der Spek, P. J., Steegers, E. A. P., Exalto, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aneuploidy; Computer applications; CRL; Crown-Rump Length; embryonic volume; Fetal Growth Retardation - pathology; Fetus - pathology; first‐trimester ultrasound; Gestational Age; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Retrospective Studies; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - methods; User-Computer Interface; virtual reality
• ISSN: 0960-7692; 1469-0705
• DOI: 10.1002/uog.12365

ABSTRACT Objectives To examine whether embryonic volume (EV), as measured using three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound and a virtual reality approach, is a better measure of growth restriction than is crown–rump length (CRL) in aneuploid fetuses. Methods We retrospectively measured CRL and EV in prospectively collected 3D ultrasound volumes of 55 aneuploid fetuses using the Barco I‐Space VR system. The gestational age ranged from 11 + 2 to 14 + 4 weeks. We compared our measured data with previously published reference curves for euploid fetuses. Delta‐values were calculated by subtracting the expected mean for euploid fetuses of the same gestational age from observed values. The one‐sample t‐test was used to test the significance of differences observed. Results The CRL measurements of fetuses with trisomy 21 (n = 26), trisomy 13 (n = 5) and monosomy X (n = 5) were comparable with those of euploid fetuses, but in fetuses with trisomy 18 (n = 19) the CRL was 14.5% smaller (P