Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 20, Issue 4 329-333, Copyright © 2001 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
The transfrontal view: a new approach to the visualization of the fetal midline cerebral structures
A. Visentin, G. Pilu, P. Falco and L. Bovicelli
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bologna, and Tecnobios Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, Italy.
The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using the
frontal suture as an acoustic window to visualize sonographically the
midline cerebral structures (transfrontal view) in midtrimester fetuses.
The study design was prospective and observational. In 124 healthy fetuses
and in 2 fetuses with agenesis of the corpus callosum at 19 to 24 weeks'
gestation, an attempt was made to obtain a transfrontal view by using
transabdominal sonography. The transfrontal view was successfully and
rapidly obtained in 110 (89%) of the healthy fetuses; it always provided
detailed visualization of the entire corpus callosum, cavum septi
pellucidii, third ventricle, brain stem, fourth ventricle, vermis
cerebelli, and cisterna magna. The anatomic information was comparable with
that obtained from a median sagittal scan obtained through the anterior
fontanelle. In both fetuses with agenesis of the corpus callosum, the
transfrontal view provided clear evidence of the anomaly. The transfrontal
view is feasible in midtrimester fetuses and allows rapid demonstration of
the cerebral midline structures and the corpus callosum in particular. It
may be helpful in the diagnosis or exclusion of cerebral anomalies, and at
least in some cases, it may obviate the need for a transvaginal
examination. The transfrontal view may also be used to standardize the
scanning plane for the evaluation of the fetal facial profile.
