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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Fetal Brain

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MR Spectroscopy of Pediatric Brain Disorders

Abstract

Fetal 1H-MRS is a promising non-invasive technique for assessing metabolic integrity in the developing brain, and has the potential to open a critical presently unavailable window for antenatal cerebral surveillance in the high-risk pregnancy. However, ongoing work is needed to improve the technical success of this emerging technique so as to increase and optimize its utility in the clinical setting. To date in vivo studies have provided important normative data for second and third trimester fetal brain metabolic concentrations in healthy fetuses. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the complex role of these metabolites throughout gestation. This in turn will lay the foundation for the development of clinically meaningful 1H-MRS biomarkers for the accurate assessment of fetal health and well-being. Finally, although a number of studies have performed in vivo spectroscopy studies, the long-term prognostic significance of these acute metabolic findings warrant further study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Pediatric Brain Imaging Research Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Catherine Limperopoulos Ph.D

  2. George Washington University Health Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Catherine Limperopoulos Ph.D

  3. Children’s National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA

    Catherine Limperopoulos Ph.D

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  1. Catherine Limperopoulos Ph.D
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Correspondence to Catherine Limperopoulos Ph.D .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Keck School of Medicine, Dept. Radiology, University of Southern California, Zonal Avenue 1975, Los Angeles, 90089-9034, California, USA

    Stefan Blüml

  2. , Dept. of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburg of UPMC, Penn Avenue 4401, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA

    Ashok Panigrahy

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Limperopoulos, C. (2013). Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Fetal Brain. In: Blüml, S., Panigrahy, A. (eds) MR Spectroscopy of Pediatric Brain Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5864-8_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5864-8_19

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