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Updated: Jan 27, 2026
A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma DIPG
Published on: March 7, 2017
Is traditional perinatal autopsy needed after detailed fetal ultrasound and post-mortem MRI?
Susan C Shelmerdine1,2, Owen J Arthurs1,2, Isobel Gilpin3
1Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Objective:
To determine the additional yield from autopsy following prenatal ultrasound and post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) for structural abnormalities.
Method:
PMMR was performed on consecutive fetuses over a 6-year period. Prenatal ultrasound and PMMR findings were categorised as concordant, partially concordant or discordant findings. The yield of new and clinically significant information from autopsy was assessed. Diagnostic accuracies for both modalities were calculated, using autopsy as reference standard.
Results:
Our study consisted of 81 fetuses. PMMR and prenatal ultrasound findings were concordant in 44/81 (54.3%), partially concordant in 26/81 (32.1%) and discordant in 11/81 (13.6%) cases. In 19/81 cases (23%), autopsy provided additional information, which appeared clinically significant in 12 cases. In 10 of those 12 cases, there was discordance between PMMR and ultrasound. In only 2 of 44 cases where ultrasound and PMMR were concordant, did autopsy provide clinically significant information. Diagnostic accuracy rates for ultrasound were sensitivity of 76.8% (66.6%, 84.6%), specificity of 92.5% (88.9%, 95.0%). For PMMR the sensitivity was 79.0% (68.9%, 86.5%), specificity 97.9% (95.5%, 99.0%). PMMR had a significantly higher concordance rate with autopsy than ultrasound (89.0 vs 93.8%; P < .001).
Conclusion:
Where PMMR and ultrasound are concordant, there is little additional yield from autopsy.
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