Congenital abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system: perinatal evaluation and long-term outcome

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging
• Prenatal diagnosis
• Musculoskeletal abnormalities

Background:

• Musculoskeletal malformations are congenital anomalies detectable prenatally.
• These conditions, whether isolated or syndromic, significantly affect an individual's life.
• Subtle anomalies may become more apparent in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of various imaging modalities in diagnosing and managing prenatal musculoskeletal malformations.
• To highlight the utility of ultrasound, CT, and MRI in different stages of patient care.
• To discuss the emerging role of 3D imaging in prenatal and postnatal assessments.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on prenatal and postnatal imaging of musculoskeletal malformations.
• Discussion of the application of ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Emphasis on the use of three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques.

Main Results:

• Prenatal US is effective in detecting a wide range of musculoskeletal malformations.
• Radiography confirms diagnoses postnatally.
• US, CT, and MRI are crucial for initial imaging, treatment follow-up, and complication monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal imaging, particularly US, plays a vital role in identifying congenital musculoskeletal anomalies.
• A combination of imaging techniques, including CT and MRI, is essential for comprehensive management.
• Three-dimensional imaging is increasingly important in both prenatal and postnatal evaluations of these conditions.