Hippocampal development at gestation weeks 23 to 36: An ultrasound study on preterm neonates
2010 (English)In: Neuroradiology, ISSN 0028-3940, E-ISSN 1432-1920, Vol. 52, no 6, p. 489-494Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
INTRODUCTION: During fetal development, the hippocampal structures fold around the hippocampal sulcus into the temporal lobe. According to the literature, this inversion should be completed at gestation week (GW) 21. Thereafter, the hippocampal shape should resemble the adult shape. However, incomplete hippocampal inversion (IHI) is found in 19% of the common population. The aim of this study was to study fetal hippocampal development by examining neonates born preterm. METHODS: We analyzed cranial ultrasound examinations, performed as a part of the routine assessment of all preterm infants, over a 3-year period and excluded the infants with brain pathology. The final material consisted of 158 children born <35 GW. A rounded form (the ratio between the horizontal and vertical diameters of the hippocampal body <25 GW and >/=25 GW was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). The frequency of bilateral IHI was highest in the youngest age group. In the other groups, the left-sided IHI was the most common. CONCLUSION: In about 50% of the neonates, hippocampal inversion is not completed up to GW 24; but from 25 GW onwards, the frequency and laterality of IHI is similar to that in the adult population.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2010. Vol. 52, no 6, p. 489-494
Keywords [en]
Fetal development, Ultrasonography, Hippocampus, Premature infants, Gestational age, Malrotation
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-124857DOI: 10.1007/s00234-010-0673-xISI: 000277790000003PubMedID: 20352419OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-124857DiVA, id: diva2:318060
2010-05-062010-05-062022-01-28Bibliographically approved