Huang_new_US_Neuro 17/02/2010 13:20 Page 91
Characterization of Fetal Brain Development with Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Figure 3: Coronal Views at Anterior Commissure Level of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Color Map (A),
Averaged Diffusion-weighted Image (B), and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Map (C) of 13–22-week Fetal Brains
13 weeks 15 weeks 17 weeks 18 weeks 19 weeks 20 weeks 21 weeks 22 weeks
13 weeks 15 weeks 17 weeks 18 weeks 19 weeks 20 weeks 21 weeks 22 weeks
Figure 4: Measurement of Volumes of Brain Structures Figure 5: Three-dimensionally Reconstructed Callosal,
from 13–22 Gestational Weeks Fetal Brains Association, Limbic, and Projection Fibers of 20-week
Fetal, Neonatal, and Pediatric Brains
2.4
2.0
Callosal tracts
1.6
1.2
Association tracts
V
olume (ml)
0.8
0.4
Limbic tracts
0
13 17 21
Gestation weeks
Projection tracts
Tha Put + GP Ven GE Caud
Caud = caudate nucleus; GE = ganglionic eminence; Put + GP = putamen and globus pallidus;
Tha = thalamus; Ven = ventricle.
Fetal Neonatal Pediatric
database. For 0-day-old infants and five- to six-year-old children, in fibers) connecting to the purple hippocampus, are quite similar across
vivo DTI data were acquired. The 0-day-old infants were full-term, and the three developmental stages. The projection and callosal tracts
we imaged healthy volunteers while asleep. These images can be display the anterior-to-posterior developmental pattern. In association
considered a normal reference for the full-term infant. The children tracts, red, green, and yellow fibers represent uncinate fasciclus,
were five years old. Around this age, pediatric brains seem to mature inferior longitudinal fasciclus/inferior fronto-occiptial fasciclus, and
to the point where MR images appear very similar to those of an adult superior longitudinal fasciclus, respectively. The lack of a superior
brain. Three-dimensionally reconstructed tracts from data at three longitudinal fasciculus is most striking in the fetal brain. The superior
time-points are shown in Figure 5. From Figure 5, morphology of the longitudinal fasciculus is not prominent enough, even at birth, to be
limbic tracts, including cingulum (green fibers) and stria terminalis (red reliably reconstructed by tractography. The temporal projection of the
US NEUROLOGY 91
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