The volume of the cerebellum in the second semester of gestation

Abstract

Background and aims

The cerebellum (“little brain”), the largest part of hind brain, lies in the posterior cranial fossa, beneath the occipital lobe and dorsal to the brainstem. It develops over a long period: it is one of the first structures in the brain to begin to differentiate, but one of the last to mature. The use of ultrasonography has significantly improved the evaluation of fetal growth and development and has permitted prenatal diagnosis of a variety of congenital malformations.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the cerebellar growth and development using 2 different measuring techniques: microMRI and ultrasound technique. The cerebellum measurements were related to gestational age.

Methods

We used 14 human fetuses corresponding to 15–28 gestational weeks, immersed in a 9% formalin solution. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed by employing a Bruker BioSpec 70/16USR scanner (Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH, Ettlingen, Germany), operated at 7.04 Tesla for cerebellar volume measurement. Ultrasonographic measurements of the cerebellum diameter were performed on 14 pregnant women, 15 – 28 gestational weeks. Ultrasound scan used 5–10 MHZ for transvaginal approach. Taking into consideration the values of the cerebellum dimensions and considering the general shape of the cerebellum as a transverse ellipsoid, the volume of the cerebellum was calculated by a mathematical formula for ellipsoid volume.

Results

The study correlates the measurements from the microMRI study with the ultrasounds data and the results are superposable. Both established the exponential volume growth after the 22–23 GW. We used the ellipsoid volume formula for the cerebellar volume using the half of the three diameters of the cerebellum determined by ultrasound measurements:

Cerebellar Volume = Ellipsoid volume = 3/4 π r1 r2 r3

Conclusion

There is a linear correlation between the microMRI measurements and ultrasound determinations. Based on all collected data we could apply an easy formula to calculate the volume of cerebellum, a useful criterion in the evaluation of the cerebellar development and the appreciation of the gestational age.

Background and aims

The normal evolution of fetal development is an important aspect in obstetric practice and the correct appreciation of the transformative parameters is continually changing owing to the progress of technical investigations. The ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance investigations give us the possibility to appreciate more accurately the parameters of the fetal evolution related to the gestational age. Recently, the physiological development of the brain is appreciated based on the dimensions of the skull or of the brain. Along with Schmahmann’s explanations regarding the cognitive affective functions of the cerebellum [1], the cerebellum has become a common topic of study and evaluation of fetal development.

The cerebellum (“the little brain”), located in the posterior cranial fossa, beneath the occipital lobe and dorsal to the brainstem, exposes the vermis – a midline region, a narrow adjacent area (paravermian area) and the hemispheres on each side. The cerebellum is divided by the fissures in flocculonodular, anterior and posterior lobes. Except the first one, the lobes are divided further in lobules and laminae (folia) to increase the cerebellar surface. The cerebellum has a very well organized architecture with a major role in sensory-motor control: integrating the inputs from the sensory system or other parts of the brain, it contributes to motor coordination, precision, accurate timing and motor learning. In addition, the cerebellum is involved in cognitive functions (attention, language) and in emotion (the response to pleasure and fear). The cerebellar dysfunctions consist in disorders of equilibrium, posture, automatic/fine movements and motor learning. The cerebellum development lengthens from the early embryonic time until the postnatal years. Therefore the development of cerebellum presents a high susceptibility in undergoing a large spectrum of developmental disorders such as malformations and disruptions.

As a part of the encephalon, the cerebellum development starts with the neurulation - the folding process of the neural plate from the ectodermal layer. The neural plate turns into neural tube with a rostral part, base for consecutive divisions, developing the brain vesicles: the forebrain (prosencephalon) – which gives the telencephalon and diencephalon, the midbrain (mesencephalon) and the hindbrain (rhombencephalon) – which gives metencephalon and myelencephalon.

The cerebellum develops from the alar plate, the dorsal part of the metencephalon, and the neural folds – the future rhombic lips. The alar plate expands laterally and form the rhombomeres 1. By medial fusion they delimit the cavity of the IVth ventricle and a smooth - convex structure, the rudiment of the cerebellum with the midline vermis. The cerebellar fissures are seen starting with 3-rd month of developing, on the vermis surface and floccular region, and from 5th month to the level of the hemispheres [2–4]. The mass of cerebellum will double after the 19th week of gestation and will grow even after birth [5–8].

Clinically, the evolution of cerebellum gives information related to the developmental stage of the fetus. Using the ultrasonographic technique or MRI investigation, recent studies determine different parameters of cerebellar development to establish the developmental age. Ultrasound studies highlight the importance of the transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) or vermis dimensions as an alternative procedure to the appreciation of gestational age by the measurement of biparietal diameter (BPD) of the skull [9–12]. Another tool of imaging determination, the MRI technique, gives the possibility to study the volume of developmental cerebellum as a more accurate parameter in relation with gestational age.

Methods

The microMRI study used 14 human fetuses corresponding to 15–28 gestational weeks from the Collection of the Anatomy – Embryology Department. They were preserved in a 9% formalin solution during the first 48 hours at 4ºC, and were subsequently stored at room temperature. They had normal external morphology. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed by using a Bruker BioSpec 70/16USR scanner (Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH, Ettlingen, Germany), operated at 7.04 Tesla. All the experiments were performed at room temperature (20°C) with fetuses immersed in a 4% formaldehyde solution inside plastic cylindrical containers. The adjustments of the anatomical references were obtained by T2-weighted images (T2-wi), acquired in all three orthogonal planes: axial, coronal and sagittal planes.

For 3D reconstruction of the developing human nervous system the Fast Imaging with Steady-state Precession (FISP) sequence was engaged. Following the acquisition and processing of 2D slices with Bruker’s ParaVision®, the 3D reconstruction of the investigated embryos was performed using the InVesalius software (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

15 GW fetus - microMRI images of the axial, coronal and parasagittal planes.

Ultrasound scan was performed in 14 pregnant women with physiological evolution, 15 – 28 gestational weeks. Exclusion criteria were multiple gestation pregnancy, brain abnormalities. Mothers provided informed consent for using fetal scans for research purposes. Ultrasound scan used 5–10 MHZ by transvaginal approach. The cerebellum can be visualized as a “butterfly” shaped structure with two hemispheres that are joined in the middle by the vermis - more echogenic than the hemispheres. The images were taken by 3D transvaginal probe to examine the fetus development and we measured the three diameters of cerebellum: transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD), depth and height of cerebellar lobes (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

17 GW fetus – ultrasound image – transverse section of the head of the fetus.

Because of the similarity between cerebellum shape and an ellipsoid, we used the mathematic formula for the volume calculation based on the ultrasonographic measurements taking in consideration the three diameters: ellipsoid volume = 3/4 π r1 r2 r3, where r1, r2, r3 are the half diameters of the three dimensions. The calculation was made automatically with the calculator from a web-page [13].

Ethical approval - the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Iuliu Hatieganu Medicine and Pharmacy University of Cluj, Romania.

Results

Cerebellar volumes from the microMRI study are synthesized in table I.

Table I.

The values of the cerebellar volume determinated by microMRI study.

GW	Volume (mm3)
15	498
16	656
17	802
18	986
19	1198
20	1358
21	1596
22	2028
23	2466
24	2890
25	3418
26	3880
27	4558
28	5256

Data from ultrasound scan determinations of cerebellum dimensions and for the calculating volume according to the ultrasounds measurements are synthesized in table II.

Table II.

Values of the cerebellum ultrasounds measurements and the calculating volumes.

GW	Width (mm)	Depth (mm)	Height (mm)	Ellipsoid Volume (mm3)
15	16.4	7.2	8.4	505.7102
16	17.2	7.6	9.6	655.4277
17	18.3	8.2	10.4	815.0979
18	18.9	9	11.4	1012.793
19	20.3	9.8	12.2	1267.633
20	20.8	9.9	12.8	1376.639
21	22.7	10.8	13.2	1690.188
22	23.9	11.9	13.8	2049.913
23	24.6	12.6	15.9	2574.034
24	26.8	13	17.2	2893.256
25	28.3	13.4	18.1	3584.935
26	29.4	14.2	17.8	3881.211
27	30.4	16.1	18.2	4652.457
28	31.6	16.2	18.4	5230.987

Discussion

In the last decades the ultrasound investigation of the fetal evolution has become a clinical routine. An important number of papers offer data on the fetal development. The study of fetal cerebellum [14,15] represents an important subject in the attempt to find parameters of the physiological fetal evolution. There are papers sustaining the importance of the TCD [16] or the vermian dimensions as relevant parameters of the fetal evolution [15], but other papers [14,17] emphasized the importance of the global appreciation of the fetal cerebellum as is the cerebellar volume. Based on the MRI investigations [17,18] the 3D determinations are more precise, more accurate, and the information can be a reference frame for the cerebellum evolution and the evaluation of gestational week. But the MRI investigation is not a routine investigation, ultrasound determination being the current investigation of the fetal evolution. The ultrasound technique is an easy way to find different parameters of the fetal structures in evolution. For the cerebellum, the volume can be calculated based on the three diameters: TCD, width and depth of the cerebellar hemispheres. Cerebellum has a similar shape with a transverse ellipsoid with an easy formula for its volume. We used this formula to calculate the cerebellar volume and we compared the data with the results from microMRI determinations.

Regardless of whether the cerebellum is not a perfect ellipsoid, the evolution of the two different determinations are obviously superposable (Figure 3). The explanation lies in the fact that at these dimensions, the differences between the perfect ellipsoid and the cerebellum are negligible. Both established the exponential volume growth after the 22–23 GW.

Figure 3.

The evolution of the fetal cerebellar volume determinations by the two techniques: microMRI and ultrasound.

Compared to other studies, the data related to the depth of cerebellum from our study are similar with the data from Cignini study [15]. As for the cerebellar volume, our results are higher than the results of Ber study [17] with 8.83%, 20.57 %, respectively 24.06% for the 26 – 28 GW, they are coming between – 3%/+13% compared to the results of Hatab volumetric study [18], are lower than the results of Zhan study [19], but similar with the results of Liu study [20].

Taking into consideration our study and the results from other studies, we conclude that for the evolution of fetal cerebellum the volume determination is an accurate parameter and it can be calculated applying the ellipsoid formula, the differences between real cerebellar volume and the ellipsoid volume with same diameters being negligible.

Conclusions

There is a linear correlation between the microMRI measurements and ultrasound determinations. On the basis of all collected data we could apply the transverse ellipsoid formula for cerebellar volume calculation, a useful criterion in evaluation of the cerebellum development and the gestational age. Studies of embryology are still needed for a complete assessment of the developing organs. This can provide a better understanding of the normal and pathological morphogenesis.