A comparative MR and pathological study on fetal CNS disorders.

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging
• Prenatal diagnosis
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies is crucial for management.
• Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging offers detailed anatomical visualization.
• Sonography is a primary imaging modality, but MR provides complementary information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of fetal Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging in prenatal counseling for complicated pregnancies.
• To correlate MR findings with postmortem examinations in cases of central nervous system (CNS) anomalies.

Main Methods:

• Fetal MR examinations were performed using a 1.5-T magnet and HASTE sequence.
• Twelve fetuses with major anomalies were identified, leading to delivery induction or termination.
• Six cases with CNS anomalies underwent postmortem examination for detailed analysis.

Main Results:

• MR imaging accurately depicted morphological details of fetal CNS anomalies.
• Diagnoses included alobar holoprosencephaly, interhemispheric fusion, Dandy-Walker malformations, and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
• Postmortem examinations confirmed the MR imaging diagnoses in all investigated cases.

Conclusions:

• Fetal MR imaging is a valuable tool for diagnosing central nervous system (CNS) anomalies.
• Postmortem confirmation validates MR findings and aids in understanding anomaly pathogenesis.
• Integrating MR imaging improves prenatal counseling and diagnostic accuracy for complex fetal conditions.