Fetal Brain MRI: Novel Classification and Contribution to Sonography

Abstract

The current study describes a detailed picture of fetal brain MRI indications. Most patients were referred because of CNS anomalies. The impressive diversity of 16 separate entities emphasizes the expanding use of fetal brain MRI. Complicated MCBA pregnancies, which may have dramatic events, constitute a unique challenge due to early and repetitive MRI examinations and may serve as a role model for the contribution of fetal MRI during antenatal evaluation. The contribution of MRI to prenatal evaluation in various indications is discussed.

Neurodevelopmental outcome of fetal isolated ventricular asymmetry without dilation: a cohort study

“…In addition to the current study being the largest to assess the neurodevelopmental outcome of fetuses diagnosed with IVA, it is also the first to use fetal MRI as part of IVA assessment. MRI is considered an accurate tool and has been shown to detect additional findings in cases of seemingly isolated ventriculomegaly or asymmetry suspected on ultrasound examination 8,12 . As depicted in Figure 1, suspected major additional findings were diagnosed on MRI in three of 57 cases with IVA suspected on ultrasound examination.…”

“…Fetal brain MRI was performed using a 1.5‐T system (Optima 1.5 T; GE Healthcare Ultrasound, Milwaukee, WI, USA), as described previously. Single‐shot fast spin‐echo T2‐weighted sequences in orthogonal planes were performed using the following parameters: section thickness 3–4 mm; no gap; flexible coil (eight‐channel cardiac coil); matrix 320 × 224; echo time (TE) 90 ms; and repetition time (TR) 1298 ms.…”

“…The calipers were positioned at the level of the glomus of the choroid plexus, touching the inner edge of the ventricle wall at its widest part and aligned perpendicular to the long axis of the ventricle, according to the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines 6 . Fetal brain MRI was performed using a 1.5-T system (Optima 1.5 T; GE Healthcare Ultrasound, Milwaukee, WI, USA), as described previously 8 . Single-shot fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequences in orthogonal planes were performed using the following parameters: section thickness 3-4 mm; no gap; flexible coil (eight-channel cardiac coil); matrix 320 × 224; echo time (TE) 90 ms; and repetition time (TR) 1298 ms.…”

“…It has been demonstrated that fetal MRI can detect more anomalies in cases of seemingly isolated ventriculomegaly or ventricular asymmetry, and allows improved resolution and direct visualization of both sides of the fetal brain [8][9][10][11][12][13] . It has been used increasingly as an integral part of prenatal assessment for diverse indications 14 .…”

Neurodevelopmental outcome following prenatal diagnosis of a short corpus callosum

“…All pregnant women completed a fetal brain MRI whose purpose is to evaluate callosal propriety. The MRI was evaluated by an interdisciplinary team composed of an obstetrician who specializes in fetal US and MRI, an expert MRI neuro‐radiologist and a pediatric neurologist …”