Prenatal MRI characterization of brainstem glioma
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
David W Swenson1, Barbara J Nickel, Jerrold L Boxerman
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 593 Eddy St., Providence, RI, 02903, USA, Swenson.david.w@gmail.com.
We describe a unique case of prenatally diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma, detected during routine obstetric ultrasound and characterized with fetal magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnosis was supported by early postpartum imaging and confirmed at autopsy. Few examples of these rare lesions have been described in neonates by imaging and fewer cases have been confirmed by histopathological examination. Our case contributes to the limited literature concerning the clinical, MRI, and pathological correlates of brainstem gliomas in the perinatal period.
We describe a unique case of prenatally diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma, detected during routine obstetric ultrasound and characterized with fetal magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnosis was supported by early postpartum imaging and confirmed at autopsy. Few examples of these rare lesions have been described in neonates by imaging and fewer cases have been confirmed by histopathological examination. Our case contributes to the limited literature concerning the clinical, MRI, and pathological correlates of brainstem gliomas in the perinatal period.
