Detection of Fetal Spine Abnormalities using Image Processing Technique

Prenatal screening is an important part of prenatal survey for early detection of fetal abnormalities. Prenatal screening means testing the fetus before birth (prenatally) to identify whether the fetus has certain abnormalities. Among several methods of prenatal testing, prenatal sonography is an appropriate and cost-effective screening method for early detection of fetal abnormalities. Sonographic evaluation of fetal spine is an important aspect of prenatal fetal evaluation for both high-risk and low-risk patients. Fetal spine abnormalities can be detected in the second trimester (less than 24 weeks). Early detection of spinal anomalies helps in safer termination of pregnancy. The overall occurrence of spinal anomalies in our population undergoing sonographic evaluation was 1 in 426. The fetal spine is very difficult anatomic structure to examine because of its length and is greatly affected by fetal flexion, extension and rotation. The fetal spine is technically difficult to examine because the entire spine must be visualized in axial and sagittal projections.