Fetal brain MRI texture analysis identifies different microstructural patterns in adequate and small for gestational age fetuses at term

Fetal Diagn Ther. 2013;33(2):122-9. doi: 10.1159/000346566. Epub 2013 Feb 6.

Abstract

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis whether a texture analysis (TA) algorithm applied to MRI brain images identified different patterns in small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses as compared with adequate for gestational age (AGA).

Study design: MRI was performed on 83 SGA and 70 AGA at 37 weeks' GA. Texture features were quantified in the frontal lobe, basal ganglia, mesencephalon, cerebellum and cingulum. A classification algorithm based on discriminative models was used to correlate texture features with clinical diagnosis.

Results: Region of interest delineation in all areas was achieved in 61 SGA (12 vasodilated) and 52 AGA; this was the sample for TA feature extraction which allowed classifying SGA from AGA with accuracies ranging from 90.9 to 98.9% in SGA versus AGA comparison and from 93.6 to 100% in vasodilated SGA versus AGA comparison.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that TA can detect brain differences in SGA fetuses. This supports the existence of brain microstructural changes in SGA fetuses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / embryology*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Cohort Studies
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis*
  • Developmental Disabilities / etiology
  • Developmental Disabilities / pathology
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / etiology
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / physiopathology*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Small for Gestational Age
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Placental Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Term Birth
  • Vasodilation