Fetal magnetic resonance imaging of lumbar spine development in vivo: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe MR imaging appearances of the fetal lumbar spine in vivo at different gestational ages (GAs). METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. We collected MR images and clinical data of 93 fetuses in our hospital. All the MR images were obtained by 3-T MR. All had the mid-sagittal plane of steady state free precession sequence (Trufi) of the lumbar spine, which could show the lumbar vertebra and conus medullaris (CM). Regression analysis was made between GA and heights of lumbar vertebral body ossification center (LVBOC), lengths of LVBOC, and heights of intervertebral gap (IVG). RESULTS: There were good linear correlations between the heights of LVBOC and GA (P < 0.001), lengths of LVBOC and GA (P < 0.001), and heights of IVG and GA (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We showed the different development of each LVBOC and IVG which caused the difference of the shape of LVBOC and IVG.