Three‐dimensional ultrasound virtual organ computer‐aided analysis to monitor fetal intracranial volume development characteristics: A multi‐center study in a Chinese population.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of monitoring fetal intracranial volume using three‐dimensional ultrasound virtual organ computer‐aided analysis (VOCAL) technology and to analyze normal fetal brain growth. Methods: This multi‐center prospective cross‐sectional study included 821 pregnant women (18–40 gestational weeks) divided into 23 groups according to gestational week. We used transabdominal three‐dimensional ultrasound VOCAL to monitor fetal intracranial volume; explore the correlation between intracranial volume and gestational age, biparietal diameter (BPD), and head circumference (HC); and analyze the proportion of brain weight to body weight. Results: The intracranial volume of normal fetuses conformed to the normal distribution, gradually increased with gestational age, and was highly correlated with gestational age (r = 0.977), BPD (r = 0.975), and HC (r = 0.953; p < 0.001). The median percentage of brain weight (BW) to estimated fetal weight (EFW) was between 13% and 21%, and the BW/EFW ratio showed a significant downward trend in the third trimester. The VOCAL technology monitored the fetal intracranial volume with good repeatability. Conclusions: VOCAL technology is feasible for monitoring the fetal intracranial volume, and the intracranial volume increases more than 10‐times in the second and third trimesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]