Sivera, Raphael;
Clark, Anna E;
Dall’Asta, Andrea;
Ghi, Tullio;
Schievano, Silvia;
Lees, Christoph C;
(2024)
Fetal face shape analysis from prenatal 3D ultrasound images.
Scientific Reports
, 14
, Article 4411. 10.1038/s41598-023-50386-9.
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Abstract
3D ultrasound imaging of fetal faces has been predominantly confined to qualitative assessment. Many genetic conditions evade diagnosis and identification could assist with parental counselling, pregnancy management and neonatal care planning. We describe a methodology to build a shape model of the third trimester fetal face from 3D ultrasound and show how it can objectively describe morphological features and gestational-age related changes of normal fetal faces. 135 fetal face 3D ultrasound volumes (117 appropriately grown, 18 growth-restricted) of 24-34 weeks gestation were included. A 3D surface model of each face was obtained using a semi-automatic segmentation workflow. Size normalisation and rescaling was performed using a growth model giving the average size at every gestation. The model demonstrated a similar growth rate to standard head circumference reference charts. A landmark-free morphometry model was estimated to characterize shape differences using non-linear deformations of an idealized template face. Advancing gestation is associated with widening/fullness of the cheeks, contraction of the chin and deepening of the eyes. Fetal growth restriction is associated with a smaller average facial size but no morphological differences. This model may eventually be used as a reference to assist in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies with characteristic facial dysmorphisms.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Fetal face shape analysis from prenatal 3D ultrasound images |
| Location: | England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-023-50386-9 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50386-9 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular Science > Childrens Cardiovascular Disease |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10189134 |
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