Coronal approach for measuring both fetal lateral ventricles: is there an advantage over the axial view?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare measurement of the lateral cerebral ventricular diameter using either the traditional axial view or the coronal plane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study on 144 fetuses, 77 evaluated as part of a routine fetal scan and 67 referred for a neurosonogram. Distal lateral ventricles were measured both in axial and coronal plane. RESULTS: Good visualization of the ventricles was achieved in 91% of the cases using the coronal plane (both ventricles) and in 95% of the cases using the axial plane (only the distal ventricle) (p > 0.001). The mean width of the distal lateral ventricle in the axial plane was 7.9 ± 1.9 mm versus 8.2 ± 1.9 mm on the coronal plane (p < 0.001). This larger diameter by 0.3 mm was not dependent on the indication for the scan or the gestational age. Slight asymmetry was present on coronal images in the routine group (0.2 mm), and that was even larger in the referral group (1.6 mm) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Coronal measurement of both ventricles is feasible and has the advantage over measurement in the axial view in which only the distal ventricle is clearly visible and measurable.