Fetal magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal pathology

Fetal MRI has been proved to be a valuable complement to prenatal ultrasound in the study of congenital abnormalities, especially those of the central nervous system. However, its role in the assessment of the fetal abdomen is less known. Fetal abdominal pathology includes congenital abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, and abdominal wall defects. The aims of this article are to indicate an assessment protocol for the fetal abdomen, determine which patients will benefit from this technique and illustrate with examples the value of prenatal MRI and the role of the radiologist, both in diagnosis and perinatal management of these patients.