ArticleCurrent medical imaging2026
MRI-based Quantification of Ossification Centers in the Human Fetal Atlas and Axis Vertebrae.
Article in Current medical imaging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough fetal MRI has been increasingly widely used in clinical and research settings, quantitative studies specifically targeting the ossification centers of the atlas and axis remain scarce. This study aims to quantitatively assess the ossification centers of the atlas and axis in fetuses using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and establish standardized reference data for prenatal evaluation. MATERIALS AND
methodsThis study included 41 human fetuses (24 males and 17 females) at 17 to 42 weeks of gestation, collected after spontaneous abortion or preterm birth that met ethical standards. High-resolution imaging was obtained by an MRI scanner. Three-dimensional volumetric data of the ossification centers were obtained and analyzed using the 3D Slicer software. Morphometric parameters, which included the 3D maximum diameter, projection surface area, and volume, were measured. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS 23, and growth dynamics were evaluated by regression models.
resultsAnalysis shows that the ossification centers of the atlas and axis increase proportionally with gestational age, and there is a significant correlation between age and measurement parameters. The average 3D maximum diameter, projected surface area, and volume show consistent growth patterns, with no significant differences between genders. The linear regression model is the best at describing developmental dynamics, with high coefficients of determination for all parameters (R 2>0.70). DISCUSSION: This study indicates that the ossification centers of the fetal atlas and axis increase proportionally with gestational age, and a high correlation is observed in all morphological measurement parameters. Compared with ultrasound or CT, MRI has been proven to be a superior non-invasive imaging method that can provide high-resolution three-dimensional data for detailed evaluation of the fetal cervical spine without radiation exposure. The lack of gender-based differences supports the use of a unified growth model. These normative data provide valuable benchmarks for detecting cervical dysplasia. Although the sample size and cross-sectional design are relatively limited, this study provides clinically applicable growth references that may aid in the early diagnosis of congenital spinal abnormalities.
conclusionThis study provides standardized morphometric data for the main ossification centers of the atlas and axis in human fetuses. These findings contribute to a better understanding of fetal cervical spine development and establish a reference framework for early detection of congenital abnormalities. In addition, the research findings emphasize that MRI is a reliable and non-invasive tool for the detailed assessment of fetal skeletal maturity.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.