Radial symmetry molding skull roundness: a human fetal MR study

The aim of this study consists in evaluating the morphological integration and molding shape of the human fetal craniofacial complex development on MR sagittal images. The sella point has been used as a reference point to build eleven dimensional parameters encompassing the craniofacial complex. Data and measurements obtained were statistically analyzed by PCA. The designed rays were significantly correlated, normally distributed and characterized by linearity over the overall fetal development. These findings showed that the craniofacial units are clustering together, whereas craniobasal and craniopharyngeal traits are spread. The data analysis supported the efficacy of specific morphological traits to evaluate differences emerging during the modeling growth processes. Skull modeling seems to be characterized by a rotational symmetry around the sella as inertial point. We firstly present the intriguing hypothesis through which the skull development grows along a dihedral angle symmetry made of a both rotational and reflection vector.

Does fetal MR alter the management of pregnancy in the diagnosis of isolated corpus callosum agenesis?

Objective To determine if fetal MR alters the management of pregnancy and family decisions in the isolated corpus callosum agenesis (CCA) cases or not. Methods Fetal MR was carried out in the cases diagnosed with CCA in the Perinatology Unit of our hospital between 2013 and 2019 after they were differentiated as complex and isolated CCA cases. The impact of MR results on the family decisions and their approaches towards termination were assessed. Results A total of 109 out 139 cases were evaluated as isolated CCA. While 93 (85.32%) of them were diagnosed with the complete CCA, 16 (14.68%) cases were diagnosed with the partial CCA. When the period after 2017 during which fetal MR was recommended to all patients was reviewed, it was seen that 7 (23.3%) of 30 cases who underwent fetal MR and 2 (20%) of 10 cases who did not undergo fetal MR terminated their pregnancies. There was no statistical difference between two groups in terms of the decisions of the patients for gestational termination who did and did not undergo fetal MR. Conclusion Fetal MR imaging in the isolated CCA does not change the decisions of the families for the gestational termination. In terms of the termination decision, week of gestation and socio-cultural factors may have more impacts.