Fetal central nervous system (CNS) anomalies occur relatively frequently (up to 1%)(1).
2D B-mode ultrasound continues to be the primary imaging tool however recent advances in fetal MR and 3D/4D (3D US) ultrasound have highlighted substantive areas where the routine examination can be improved. 3D US and MR and have provided a new emphasis on imaging planes beyond the standard axial plane. They have also provided advanced understanding of cranial anatomy and embryology, anatomical variants and cerebral pathology.

Routine axial planes are performed in most practices.
Transventricular: Measurement of the lateral ventricles,
Assessment of the periventricular anatomy,
Transthalamic: Measurement of the bi-parietal diameter, head circumference,
Assessment of midline structures,
Transcerebellar: Measurement of the cerebellum, cisterna magna and nuchal fold,
Assessment of the poster fossa(1)
This workshop will briefly review these standard planes and highlight the importance of using a reproducible methodology.

The emphasis of the workshop will be the value of sagittal, parasagittal and coronal planes in routine and tertiary practise. The role that 3D US can play when these standard and additional views cannot be achieved will be discussed.
This workshop won't attempt to provide a full compendium of cranial abnormalities, however a discussion about some current themes from the literature in this area will be included. This will include agenesis of the corpus callosum, the spectrum of posterior fossa abnormalities and evaluation of the cranial vault.

This workshop will use a combination of live scanning, 3D reconstruction, didactic presentation and interactive discussion to demonstrate these key points.



1. Sonographic examination of the fetal central nervous system: guidelines for performing the 'basic examination' and the 'fetal neurosonogram'. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jan;29(1):109-16.