Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province, 215 Heping Western Road, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province, 361 Zhongshan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China.
Pediatr Radiol. 2023 May;53(5):920-928. doi: 10.1007/s00247-023-05594-w. Epub 2023 Mar 28.
At present, there is a lack of normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) morphometric reference values for fetal internal jugular veins during middle and late pregnancy.
We used MRI to assess the morphology and cross-sectional area of the internal jugular veins of fetuses during middle and late pregnancy and to explore the clinical value of these parameters.
The MRI images of 126 fetuses in middle and late pregnancy were retrospectively analysed to determine the optimal sequence for imaging the internal jugular veins. Morphological observation of the fetal internal jugular veins in each gestational week was carried out, lumen cross-sectional area was measured and the relationship between these data and gestational age was analysed.
The balanced steady-state free precession sequence was superior to other MRI sequences used for fetal imaging. The cross section of fetal internal jugular veins was predominantly circular in both the middle and late stages of pregnancy, however the prevalence of an oval cross section was significantly higher in the late gestational age group. The cross-sectional area of the lumen of the fetal internal jugular veins increased with increasing gestational age. Fetal jugular vein asymmetry was common, with the right jugular vein being dominant in the high gestational age group.
We provide normal reference values for fetal internal jugular veins measured by MRI. These values may form the basis for clinical assessment of abnormal dilation or stenosis.
目前，中晚期妊娠胎儿颈内静脉的正常磁共振成像（MRI）形态学参考值缺乏。
本研究通过 MRI 评估中晚期妊娠胎儿颈内静脉的形态和横截面积，探讨这些参数的临床价值。
回顾性分析 126 例中晚期妊娠胎儿的 MRI 图像，以确定用于成像颈内静脉的最佳序列。对每个孕周胎儿颈内静脉的形态进行观察，测量管腔横截面积，并分析这些数据与胎龄的关系。
平衡稳态自由进动序列优于其他用于胎儿成像的 MRI 序列。中晚期妊娠胎儿颈内静脉的横断面主要为圆形，但在晚期妊娠组中，椭圆形横断面的发生率明显更高。胎儿颈内静脉管腔的横截面积随胎龄的增加而增加。胎儿颈内静脉不对称很常见，在高胎龄组中，右颈内静脉占优势。
本研究提供了 MRI 测量胎儿颈内静脉的正常参考值。这些值可能为异常扩张或狭窄的临床评估提供依据。
