Three-dimensional ultrasound evaluation of the fetal brain: the three hornview

Objective To describe an easy technique for obtaining one of the most impor tant views of the fetal brain and image. The entire lateral ventricle inclu ding the anterior, posterior and inferior horns is demonstrated on one imag e. We propose to call this view, obtained in an oblique plane 'the three ho rn view'. Methods Depending upon the scanning technique employed there are two ways t o obtain the three horn view: (1) by two-dimensional (2D) transvaginal tran sfontanelle sonography obtained by using the left and right Oblique-1 secti ons, and (2) by three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the fetal brain, is obtai ned by acquiring a volume scan of the brain orienting the fetal head in the three main orthogonal planes and by rotating or silting the midcoronal sec tion to the left and right. Results To illustrate the technique of obtaining the three horn view four n ormal fetal brains were scanned. Two scans utilized the 2D transvaginal tra nsfontanelle approach and two scans utilized the 3D scanning technique. The same technique was then applied To six fetuses with various brain malforma tions with inflicted changes in the shape of the proposed three horn view. Conclusion The three horn view depicting the anterior posterior, and inferi or horns on the same image, was easy to obtain using both the 2D and the 3D ultrasound techniques. It provided diagnostic and clinically useful inform ation much like neonatal transfontanelle ultrasound imaging after which it was emulated.