Volume growth trend and correlation of atrial diameter with lateral ventricular volume in normal fetus and fetus with ventriculomegaly: A STROBE compliant article

Abstract

To explore the growth trend of fetal lateral ventricular volume, for understanding the relationship between atrial diameter (AD) and volume in normal fetus and fetus with ventriculomegaly. Overall, 97 sequential fetal head magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed; these pertained to 50 fetuses with normal lateral ventricles [normal group; gestational age (GA): 24–38 weeks] and 47 fetuses with ventriculomegaly (VM) (VM group; GA: 24–37 weeks). The left, right, and total lateral ventricular volume were measured using 3-dimensional magnetic resonance hydrography (MRH). Correlation coefficient (r) was calculated to assess the relationships of measurements. Lineal regression analysis was used to assess correlation of AD and GA with volume. Between-group differences in terms of AD and volume were assessed using t test. Significant linear growth was observed in the total lateral ventricular volume compared with GA in the normal group with a relative growth rate of 2.87% per week (P <10 mm group. The total volume in the VM group was significantly larger than that in the normal group. The total lateral ventricular volume increased with GA. AD can be used to evaluate the fetal ventricular volume.