Visualization of fetal cranial sutures and anterior fontanelle: Comparison between two- and three-dimensional ultrasound / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of obtaining good quality ultrasound pictures of sutures and anterior fontanelle with three-dimensional and two-dimensional ultrasound. Methods Eighty fetuses at 16-35 weeks of gestation were evaluated with two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound. The sagittal, coronal, lambdoidal and metopic sutures, as well as anterior fontanelle, were inspected. Results The visualization of the sagittal suture of three-dimensional ultrasound was significantly superior to that of two-dimensional ultrasound, while no significant difference in visualization of the metopic, lambdoidal, coronal sutures and anterior fontanelle was found between the two modalities. The visualization of all sutures and anterior fontanelle was significantly superior with three-dimensional ultrasonography to that of two-dimensional ultrasonography before 30 weeks of gestation, whereas no significant difference was found between the two modalities after 30 weeks of gestation. Conclusion Three-dimensional ultrasound can provide more comprehensive information of fetal cranial sutures and anterior fontanelle than two-dimensional ultrasound does. Three-dimensional ultrasound can also supply high visualization of all sutures and anterior fontanelle before 30 weeks of gestation.