Fetal MRI (fetal + mri)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


MRI in fetal necropsy

JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 6 2006
FRCR, Jocelyn S. Brookes MB
Abstract The fetal autopsy involves a series of investigations of the corpse, most of which are noninvasive and acceptable to the majority of parents and their physicians. The value of the perinatal autopsy is manyfold and well established, and the results can provide a basis for parental and family counseling, inform future obstetric management, and provide audit for prenatal care. Many techniques originally developed for diagnosis, such as histology, biochemical tests, photography, x-rays, and cytogenetic karyotyping, have become standard tools in perinatal autopsies. However, there has been an inexorable decline in the autopsy consent rate over the last 30 years due to social and cultural factors, and perhaps ignorance of the benefits to be derived from the examination. Growing evidence suggests that postmortem fetal MRI can assist the pathologist at autopsy, and in many cases can obviate the need for dissection or at least minimize and focus it. For the majority of cases in which no consent for surgical autopsy is given, MRI together with other noninvasive postmortem tests can provide a great deal of the information that was previously available only from autopsy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Ultrafast MRI of the fetus

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 1 2002
Christine M Glastonbury
SUMMARY During the last decade there has been increasing interest in MRI for the evaluation of ultrasound-detected fetal abnormalities. Motion artefacts previously precluded detailed imaging, but this is now possible using single-shot rapid acquisition sequences. These ultrafast techniques with subsecond images capture ,snap-shot' views of the fetus. By virtue of the infinitely long relaxation time (TR) these images are heavily T2-weighted so that fluid around and within the fetus delineates the anatomy. Currently, fetal MRI has shown to be most beneficial in the investigation of cerebral abnormalities suspected from sonography, and in the detection of subtle associated anomalies. It clearly has a role in the evaluation of complex somatic abnormalities, and is helpful in the evaluation of fetuses prior to surgery. We present a pictorial review of our experience with single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) imaging, demonstrating normal anatomy of the fetal brain and body. In addition we present cerebral and somatic abnormalities to illustrate cases where we have found fetal MRI to be a useful adjunct to sonography. [source]


Genetic counseling and "molecular" prenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly (HPE),

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 1 2010
Sandra Mercier
Abstract Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a structural anomaly of the developing brain in which the forebrain fails to divide into two separate hemispheres and ventricles. The poor prognosis in the most severe forms justifies the importance of genetic counseling in affected families. The genetic counseling requires a thorough clinical approach given the extreme variability of phenotype and etiology. The karyotype is an essential diagnostic tool. Since mutations in the four major genes (SHH, ZIC2, SIX3, and TGIF) have been identified in HPE patients, molecular study is performed routinely in nonsyndromic HPE. New molecular tools, such as array-CGH analysis, are now part of the diagnostic process. Prenatal diagnosis is based primarily on fetal imaging, but "molecular" prenatal diagnosis can be performed if a mutation has been previously identified in a proband. Interpretations of molecular diagnosis must be given with caution, given the lack of strict genotype,phenotype correlation, and should be offered in addition to fetal imaging, using ultrasound followed by fetal MRI. We report on our experience of 15 molecular prenatal diagnoses from chorionic villi or amniotic fluid sampling. In eight instances, we were able to reassure the parents after taking into account the absence of the mutation in the fetus, previously identified before in a parent and/or a proband. Fetal RMI was normal later in pregnancy, and no child had medical problems after birth. The mutation was found in the seven other cases: four children were born, either without brain malformation and asymptomatic, or had a less severe form than the index case. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Cavum veli interpositi: prenatal diagnosis and postnatal outcome

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 7 2005
Prakesh S. Shah
Abstract We describe the finding of cavum veli interpositi (CVI) on fetal ultrasound and MRI and the postnatal MRI and developmental follow-up in two cases. The first case was diagnosed on fetal ultrasound at 33 weeks' gestation and confirmed on fetal MRI. No abnormalities were detected on postnatal examinations and the brain MRI at 1 year of age showed no changes. At 4 years of age, his growth and development were normal. The second case was diagnosed with CVI on fetal ultrasound and MRI at 33.5 weeks' gestation. Postnatal examination showed no abnormalities, and brain MRI at 8 months of age revealed that the CVI was unchanged, but there was a dilated cavum septum pellucidum and cavum vergae. Her growth and development during the first 4 years of life were normal. CVI is a rare fetal ultrasound finding, which seems to be benign. However, further neurodevelopmental follow-up is needed to confirm this observation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Third-trimester fetal MRI in isolated 10- to 12-mm ventriculomegaly: is it worth it?

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 8 2006
LJ Salomon
Objective, The justification for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in isolated mild ventriculomegaly remains controversial. This study was undertaken to evaluate the contribution of third-trimester MRI in isolated 10- to 12-mm fetal ventriculomegaly. Design, Observational prospective cohort study. Setting, Universitary prenatal reference centre. Population, From February 2000 to May 2005, we prospectively collected data concerning fetuses referred to us for cerebral MRI following detection of ventriculomegaly by ultrasound scan (n= 310). Methods, Among these, we identified and analysed those cases in which ventriculomegaly was isolated and did not exceed 12 mm in ultrasound examinations prior to MRI scan (n= 185). Main outcome measure, Cases in which MRI provided additional information that was likely to have an impact on prenatal management were detailed. Results, During the study period, 310 MRI were performed because of fetal ventriculomegaly. Hundred and eighty-five were suspected to be isolated 10- to 12-mm ventriculomegalies in ultrasound scan and formed our database. MRI confirmed the 10- to 12-mm isolated fetal ventriculomegaly in 106 cases (57.3%) and found other abnormalities in 5 (4.7%) of these 106 cases. MRI found ventricular measurement to be less than 10 mm in 43 cases (23.3%) and more than 12 mm in 36 cases (19.4%). Among these 36 fetuses with ventricle size more than 12 mm, 6 (16.7%) had other abnormalities, whereas MRI did not find other abnormalities in the 43 cases with ventricle size below 10 mm. Conclusion, Before advantages of MRI to ultrasound examination can be demonstrated, it seems reasonable that MRI should remain an investigational tool, restricted to selected clinical situations in which the results are expected to modify case management. Where ultrasound scan suspects isolated ventriculomegaly of 10 to 12 mm, our data suggest that when the finding is confirmed with MRI this could be expected in around 5% of cases. Therefore, the policy of routine MRI in such cases should depend on prenatal centres' priorities. [source]