Fetal MR Imaging

Although sonography (US) is the first imaging technique for evaluating the developing fetus, significant limitations exist in the sonographic prenatal diagnosis of many brain disorders and in the evaluation of cerebral anatomy. At present, the role of MR imaging in the diagnosis of prenatal anomalies is confined to determining the underlying cause of non-specific fetal abnormalities detected sonographically, especially in fetal brain malformations, or when US is equivocal or limited. In particular, the major indication for MR study is ventriculomegaly, because this sign could be associated with different anomalies (malformations, ischemic disease and cerebral destructive lesions); other indications for MRI include maternal infections and genetic syndromes. MR imaging is an important adjunctive tool for prenatal imaging in those instances where complex anomalies are suspected by US, when fetal surgery is contemplated, or when a definitive diagnosis cannot be determined. In this work we report our experience of fetal MRI in fetuses with suspect cerebral anomalies previously detected by US.