3D ultrasound evaluation of fetal ears in prenatal syndrome diagnosis – a comparative study

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess fetal ears on prenatal 3D ultrasound and compare ear surface patterns and measurements between fetuses with syndromes and healthy fetuses.

Materials and Methods Our study is based on 3D ultrasound images of 100 fetuses between the 20th and 37th week of gestation. We compared 50 ears of fetuses with syndromes (syndrome group) to 50 gestational age-matched ears of healthy fetuses (control group). The syndrome group consisted of fetuses with Trisomy 21 (n=13), Trisomy 18 (n=9) and other syndromes (n=28). The evaluation was based on measuring the ear length and width as well as developing categories to describe and compare different ear surface anomalies.

Results Ears of fetuses with Trisomy 18 were on average 0.423 cm smaller in length (P<0.001) and 0.123 cm smaller in width (P=0.031) and grew on average 0.046 cm less in length per week of gestation (P=0.027) than those of healthy fetuses. Ears of fetuses with Trisomy 21 differed from healthy fetuses regarding the form of the helix (P=0.013) and the ratio of the concha to the auricle (P=0.037). Fetuses with syndromes demonstrated less ear surface details than their controls (syndrome group: P=0.018, P=0.005; other syndromes subgroup: P=0.020). We saw an increased richness of ear surface details at a later gestational age both in the fetuses with syndromes and the healthy fetuses.

Conclusion Ears of fetuses with Trisomy 18 were smaller than their matched controls. Fetuses with syndromes varied in the evaluation of their ear surface from those of healthy fetuses. The ear surface can be analyzed with 3D ultrasound and might be useful as a screening parameter in syndrome diagnosis in the future.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Ziel unserer Studie war es, Oberflächenmuster und Messwerte der Ohren syndromaler und gesunder Feten mithilfe des pränatalen 3D-Ultraschalls zu bestimmen und zu vergleichen.

Material und Methode Unsere Studie basiert auf 3D-Ultraschallbildern von 100 Feten zwischen der 20. und 37. Schwangerschaftswoche. Wir verglichen 50 Ohren syndromaler Feten (Syndromgruppe) mit 50 Ohren gleichaltriger gesunder Feten (Kontrollgruppe). Die Syndromgruppe bestand aus Feten mit Trisomie 21 (n=13), Trisomie 18 (n=9) und sonstigen Syndromen (n=28). Die Auswertung basierte auf der Messung der Ohrenlänge und -breite sowie der Entwicklung von Kategorien verschiedener Oberflächenanomalien.

Ergebnisse Ohren von Feten mit Trisomie 18 waren durchschnittlich 0,423cm kürzer (P<0,001), 0,123cm schmaler (P=0,031) und wuchsen 0,046cm pro Schwangerschaftswoche weniger in der Länge (P=0,027) als die in der Kontrollgruppe. Ohren von Feten mit Trisomie 21 wichen gegenüber gesunden Feten in der Beurteilung der Helixform (P=0,013) und dem Verhältnis der Concha zur Ohrmuschel (P=0,037) ab. Das Detailreichtum der Ohrenoberfläche syndromaler Feten war gegenüber denen der Kontrollfeten erniedrigt (Syndromgruppe: P=0,018, P=0,005; sonstige Syndrome: P=0,020). Sowohl syndromale als auch gesunde Feten wiesen eine Zunahme des Detailreichtums der Ohrenoberfläche mit steigendem Gestationsalter auf.

Schlussfolgerungen Ohren von Feten mit Trisomie 18 waren kleiner als die der Kontrollgruppe. Ohren von syndromalen Feten unterschieden sich in der Bewertung ihrer Oberfläche von gesunden Feten. Die Ohrenoberfläche kann im 3D-Ultraschall analysiert werden und könnte als Screening-Parameter in der Syndromdiagnostik hilfreich sein.

Keywords

ear - 3D ultrasound - prenatal - syndrome - fetus

Publication History

Received: 21 November 2023

Accepted after revision: 25 January 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
25 January 2024

Article published online:
04 March 2024

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