Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the fetal brain in intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract

ADC values in IUGR fetuses were significantly lower than in normal controls in the frontal white matter, thalami, centrum semiovale and pons, suggesting abnormal maturation in these regions. However, the prognostic value of these ADC changes is still unknown. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Direct comparison between apparent diffusion coefficient and macromolecular proton fraction as quantitative biomarkers of the human fetal brain maturation

“…More research is needed to precisely assess the accuracy of MPF measurements in clinical MRI settings using unmodified manufacturers' sequences. It also should be noted in this context that the literature fetal brain ADC values vary widely depending on the imaging equipment and protocol. For example, mean ADC in fetal frontal WM were reported in a range from 1370–2170 × 10 ‐6 mm 2 /s .…”

“…For ADC mapping, a 2D single‐shot spin‐echo diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar imaging (EPI) sequence was used with the following parameters: repetition time / echo time (TR/TE) = 2940/64 msec; three orthogonal diffusion directions; five b‐values of 0, 125, 251, 376, and 501 s/mm 2 ; field of view (FOV) 29 × 29 cm 2 ; matrix 144 × 123 (interpolated to 240 × 240); in‐plane resolution 2.01 × 2.36 mm 2 (interpolated to 1.21 × 1.21 mm 2 ); 12 slices with thickness of 5 mm and gap of 0.4 mm; two signal averages; and scan time of 79 seconds. The five‐point DWI protocol was adapted from the earlier adult brain study with a 2‐fold reduction of the b‐values in view of the fact that ADC values in the fetal brain are 2–3‐fold larger as compared with the adult brain …”

“…MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) techniques for quantitative assessment of the fetal brain tissue maturation may facilitate a new approach in the early diagnosis of various prenatal brain diseases and injuries and provide fundamental knowledge about mechanisms of pre‐ and postnatal neurodevelopment. Among these techniques, diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) has attracted significant interest over the past decade due to its high sensitivity to the fetal brain tissue changes during pregnancy, broad availability, and rapid data acquisition that is critical for fetal MRI examinations . Numerous studies demonstrated significant correlations of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with gestational age (GA) in various brain anatomical structures and sensitivity of ADC to certain fetal pathological conditions including ischemia, intrauterine growth restriction, ventriculomegaly, Chiari malformation, and cytomegalovirus infection …”

“…fetal brain tissue changes during pregnancy, broad availability, and rapid data acquisition that is critical for fetal MRI examinations. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Numerous studies demonstrated significant correlations of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with gestational age (GA) in various brain anatomical structures [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] and sensitivity of ADC to certain fetal pathological conditions including ischemia, 9,10 intrauterine growth restriction, 11,12 ventriculomegaly, 13,14 Chiari malformation, 15 and cytomegalovirus infection. 16,17 A newer quantitative MRI method, fast macromolecular proton fraction (MPF) mapping, 18,19 has been recently adapted to fetal brain applications.…”

Fetal brain development at 25–39 weeks gestational age: A preliminary study using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion‐weighted imaging

“…3,4 Recently, MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been extensively used in quantitative studies of fetal brain development with the hope of assessing fetal brain lesions under pathological conditions. [5][6][7][8][9][10] It is generally accepted that the decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) most likely reflects microgliosis, which is the hallmark of neuroinflammation, 11 making ADC decrease a potential biomarker in the clinical setting to assess early fetal brain injury. [12][13][14] In addition, fetal brain network properties based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are suggested to be potential imaging biomarkers for neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism.…”