Sonographic evaluation of bilateral fetal fornix and hippocampus dimensions of fetuses between 18-36 weeks of gestation

Aim: The aim of this study is to take ultrasonographic bilateral fornix and Hippocampus measurements of fetuses between 18+0-36+0 weeks of gestation, to classify the measurements taken according to gestational weeks and to include these measurements in neurosonography in the second trimester screening of pregnancy if found to be significant by statistical analysis. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on patients between 18+0-36+0 weeks of gestation, who applied to Istanbul University Cerrahpasa-Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Perinatology Subbranch Polyclinic. The study was completed by taking ultrasonographic bilateral fornix and hippocampus measurements of the fetuses under the supervision of relevant sub-branch faculty members and sub-branch specialists, archiving the obtained measurements data in the IBM SPSS 29 package program and then performing statistical analysis. Results: 334 pregnant women between 18+0-36+0 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The measurements obtained were categorized according to gestational weeks. Minimum, maximum and average values of the measurements taken in the groups formed according to the gestational weeks. The statistical p value were calculated. Fetal gender was included in the statistical analysis as an additional parameter andf the minimum, maximu, average values for the measurements of male and female fetuses, fetal gender based statistical p values were calculated. Conclusion: No significant difference was found in the statistical analysis comparing the right and left fornix-hippocampus complex length and hippocampus height measurements in 9 categories according to gestational weeks. In the statistical analysis comparing the right and left fornix-hippocampus complex length and hippocampus height measurements according to fetal gender and gestational weeks, no significant difference was found between female and male fetuses. Key Words: Neurosonography, Fetus, Hippocampus, Fornix