Normative fetal brain growth by quantitative in vivo magnetic resonance imaging
Open accessAbstract
Objective The objective of the study was to characterize total and regional volumetric brain growth in healthy fetuses during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, using an automated method.Study design We developed and validated an automated method to quantify global and regional in vivo brain volumes using fetal magnetic resonance imaging. We then computed the percentage of growth for each brain structure in a cohort of 64 healthy fetuses (25.4-36.6 weeks' gestational age).Results The cerebellum demonstrated the greatest maturation rate, with a 4-fold increase (384%) in volume between 25.4 and 36.6 weeks, and a relative growth rate of 12.87% per week. Both total brain and cerebral volumes increased by 230% and brain stem volume by 134% over the same gestational age period. Conversely, lateral ventricular volume decreased by 4.18% per week.Conclusion The availability and ongoing validation of normative fetal brain growth trajectories will provide important tools for early detection of impaired fetal brain growth upon which to manage high-risk pregnancies.
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The human fetal brain begins to develop during the third week of gestation but grows rapidly during the prenatal period, especially in the third trimester.
“The human fetal brain begins to develop during the third week of gestation but grows rapidly during the prenatal period, especially in the third trimester [47].”
From Brain structural and functional outcomes in the offspring of women experiencing psychological distress during pregnancy (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
The Results report substantial brain growth in healthy fetuses between 25.4 and 36.6 weeks’ gestation, supporting rapid growth during the late prenatal period. The paper does not state that brain development begins in the third week of gestation. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cerebellum demonstrates the greatest growth rate during mid-late gestation from 18-40 GW, followed by the white matter, cortical gray matter, deep subcortical structures, brainstem, and lateral ventricles.
“The cerebellum demonstrates the greatest growth rate during mid-late gestation from 18–40 GW [50] followed by the white matter, cortical gray matter, deep subcortical structures, brainstem, and lateral ventricles [47, 50].”
From Brain structural and functional outcomes in the offspring of women experiencing psychological distress during pregnancy (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
The Results (Quantification of fetal brain volumes) identify the cerebellum as having the greatest relative maturation rate, but the study covers approximately 25–37 gestational weeks, not 18–40. The Comment states that the authors did not quantify cortical gray matter or white matter, so this source cannot support the full ranking of structures in the citing sentence. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredStructural and functional studies describing normal in-vivo brain development with safe and non-invasive imaging techniques have provided critical insights into the progression of in utero fetal brain development and an important tool for measuring alterations associated with maternal stress exposure.
“In summary, these structural and functional studies describing normal in-vivo brain development with the use of safe and non-invasive imaging techniques have provided critical insights into the progression of in utero fetal brain development, and have provided an important tool for measuring alterations in fetal brain development associated with maternal stress exposure, facilitating earlier ident”
From Brain structural and functional outcomes in the offspring of women experiencing psychological distress during pregnancy (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
The Study Design and Comment sections (page not specified) describe MRI measurements of normal in-vivo fetal brain growth and their potential use in detecting impaired development. The paper does not report functional fetal imaging or examine alterations associated with maternal stress exposure. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- Clouchoux, C., Guizard, N., Evans, A. C., du Plessis, A. J., & Limperopoulos, C.
- Affiliations
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Limperopoulos, Catherine
- Venue
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-02
- Volume
- 206
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 173.e1-173.e8
- ISSN
- 0002-9378 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC13054723
- OpenAlex
- W2086916378
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- American Heart Association
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (81116_1)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K24NS057568)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Keywords
- fetal brain development, fetal brain volume, cerebellum, brainstem, lateral ventricle, brain volume, fetal MRI, second and third trimester, fetal brain maturation
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Cohort Studies, Fetal Development
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