Visualizing cerebral veins in fetal brain using susceptibility-weighted MRI

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Fetal Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Cerebral vein visualization in the fetal brain is crucial for diagnosing developmental abnormalities.
• Traditional imaging techniques may have limitations in depicting fine venous structures in utero.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of using two-dimensional (2D) susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for visualizing fetal cerebral veins.
• To assess the relationship between gestational age and the detection of cerebral veins using SWI.

Main Methods:

• SWI examinations were performed on 42 healthy pregnant women using a 1.5 T MRI system.
• Two neurologists independently analyzed the MRI studies, assessing vein prominence and distribution.
• The detection of veins was correlated with gestational age, ranging from 19 to 37 weeks.

Main Results:

• A total of 167 cerebral veins were identified using SWI in 29 fetuses, showing a symmetric distribution between hemispheres.
• SWI detected an additional vein every two weeks from 24 weeks of gestation onwards.
• Prominent visualization of the vein of Galen and internal cerebral veins was noted, with other veins appearing faint or moderate.

Conclusions:

• Two-dimensional SWI is a feasible and effective method for detecting and visualizing cerebral veins in the developing fetal brain.
• SWI provides valuable insights into the venous anatomy of the fetal brain, aiding in early detection and assessment.