Additional value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system anomalies: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Objectives To analyze literature on the additional value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Additional value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system anomalies: a systematic review of the literature and related correspondence. A plea to assess oranges only

“…We read with interest both the systematic review of the literature on the additional value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) anomalies 1 and the correspondence between Drs Malinger and Lerman-Sagie 2 and the authors of the review 3 .…”

In Utero MR Imaging of Fetal Holoprosencephaly: A Structured Approach to Diagnosis and Classification

“…This comment needs to be balanced against the accumulating published data suggesting that iuMR is more accurate than US in diagnosing fetal brain pathology in general, as shown in a recent meta-analysis. 11 Of the total 23 cases of US-diagnosed HPE described in this report, the chance of the diagnosis being incorrect was 39%. Conversely, in the 26 cases in which iuMR diagnosed HPE of any severity, the chance of the diagnosis being missed on US was 46% if iuMR is assumed correct.…”

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound

“…In 30% of fetuses, the discordant MRI findings from ultrasound were significant enough to change the clinical management. Disagreement was noted mainly for midline anomalies (48.6%) [21]. In another study of 92 patients, MRI diagnosed more anomalies in fetal brain, thorax, abdomen, and skeletal systems [22].…”

“…Additional challenges for sonographic diagnosis of MAP also include posterior placenta and maternal obesity. The findings of MAP from MRI include uterine bulging, heterogeneous signal intensity of the placenta, hypersignal intra-placental bands on T2, abnormal placental vascularity, focal interruptions in the uterine wall, tenting of the bladder, and direct visualization of the invasion of nearby organs [21].…”