Quantitative fetal MRI with diffusion tensor imaging in cases with ‘short’ corpus callosum

• Published in: Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology 2024-03, Vol.63 (3), p.385-391
• Main Authors: Corroenne, R., Grevent, D., Mahallati, H., Millischer, A.‐E., Gauchard, G., Bussieres, L., Kasprian, G., Ville, Y., Salomon, L. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Anisotropy; Body measurements; Brain; Clinical Trials as Topic; Corpus callosum; Corpus Callosum - diagnostic imaging; Diffusion coefficient; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Female; fetal MRI; Fetuses; Gestational age; Gynecology; Humans; hypoplasia of corpus callosum; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mathematical analysis; Medical imaging; Neuroimaging; Obstetrics; Parameter identification; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Retrospective Studies; Sequences; short corpus callosum; Substantia alba; Tensors; Ultrasonic imaging; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 0960-7692; 1469-0705
• DOI: 10.1002/uog.27473

ABSTRACT Objectives It has been suggested previously that the presence of Probst bundles (PB) in cases with a short corpus callosum (SCC) on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may help to differentiate between corpus callosal (CC) dysplasia and a variant of normal CC development. The objectives of this study were to compare DTI parameters between cases of SCC vs normal CC and between cases of SCC with PB (SCC‐PB+) vs SCC without PB (SCC‐PB–). Methods This was a retrospective study of patients referred to the Necker Hospital in Paris, France, for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of an apparently isolated SCC detected by sonography between November 2016 and December 2022 (IRB: 00011928). MRI was performed using a 1.5‐Tesla Signa system. T2‐weighted axial and sagittal sequences of the fetal brain were used to measure the length and thickness of the CC. 16‐direction DTI axial brain sequences were performed to identify the presence of PB and to generate quantitative imaging parameters (fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)) of the entire CC, genu, body and splenium. Cases in which other associated brain abnormalities were detected on MRI were excluded. Cases were matched for fetal gender and gestational age with controls in a 1:3 ratio. Control cases were normal fetuses included in the LUMIERE on the FETUS trial (NCT04142606) that underwent the same DTI evaluation of the brain. Comparisons between SCC and normal CC cases, and between SCC‐PB+ and SCC‐PB– cases were performed using ANOVA and adjusted for potential confounders using ANCOVA. Results Twenty‐two SCC cases were included and compared with 66 fetuses with a normal CC. In 10/22 (45.5%) cases of SCC, PB were identified. As expected, dimensions of the CC were significantly smaller in SCC compared with normal CC cases (all P