Current state of MRI of the fetal brain in utero

Abstract

In this article we provide an overview of fetal brain development, describe the range of more common fetal neuropathology, and discuss the relevance of in utero MR (iuMR). Although ultrasonography remains the mainstay of fetal brain imaging, iuMR imaging is both feasible and safe, but presents several challenges. We discuss those challenges, the techniques employed to overcome them, and new approaches that may extend the clinical applicability of fetal iuMR. Level of Evidence: Technical Efficacy Stage. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:632–646.

Brain fetal neuroradiology: a beginner’s guide

“…The knowledge of normal brain development is fundamental for the interpretation of CNS fetal anomalies (12). Here follows a synthetic resume of the main processes leading to the formation-organization of the fetal brain which can be monitored at fetal MRI spatial resolution scale: these processes are disrupted in case of fetal brain genetically-based maldevelopment or clastic lesions; their knowledge helps understanding the genesis of the anomalies studied by MRI.…”

Automated detection and reacquisition of motion‐degraded images in fetal HASTE imaging at 3 T

“…Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become a well-established procedure that serves as an important adjunct to ultrasound when diagnostic doubts remain after the ultrasound exam. 1,2 The field of fetal brain MRI has been dominated by the use of single-shot encoding techniques such as half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) imaging, considered the workhorse of fetal MRI because of its ability to delineate cerebral anatomy and provide images with reduced artifacts due to fetal motion when compared to other T 2 -weighted techniques. 3 Although typical readout lengths are ~500 ms (for voxel sizes = 1.3 × 1.3 × 3 mm 3 , in-plane acceleration R = 2, partial Fourier = 5/8, echo spacing of ~6 ms), repetition times (TRs) can be more than 3 times longer (typical TR is ~1.8 s) due to specific absorption rate constraints.…”

“…Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become a well‐established procedure that serves as an important adjunct to ultrasound when diagnostic doubts remain after the ultrasound exam 1,2 . The field of fetal brain MRI has been dominated by the use of single‐shot encoding techniques such as half‐Fourier acquisition single‐shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) imaging, considered the workhorse of fetal MRI because of its ability to delineate cerebral anatomy and provide images with reduced artifacts due to fetal motion when compared to other T 2 ‐weighted techniques 3 .…”

Mapping fetal brain development based on automated segmentation and 4D brain atlasing

“…Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides superior and versatile contrasts of the gray and white matter structures in the fetal brains without known safety concerns, and its role in fetal brain examination has been recognized over the years (Griffiths et al, 2017;Jarvis & Griffiths, 2019;Weisstanner, Kasprian, Gruber, Brugger, & Prayer, 2015). In utero MRI offers exquisite anatomical details of the fetal brain within millimeter resolution and has become an important tool for prenatal diagnosis, complementary to ultrasound examination (Nielsen & Scott, 2017).…”