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MRI of the Fetal Brain

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the possibilities for fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of the fetal brain. For brain pathologies, fetal MRI is usually performed when an abnormality is detected by previous prenatal ultrasound, and is, therefore, an important adjunct to ultrasound. The most commonly suspected brain pathologies referred to fetal MRI for further evaluation are ventriculomegaly, missing corpus callosum, and abnormalities of the posterior fossa. We will briefly discuss the most common indications for fetal brain MRI, as well as recent advances.

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Acknowledgment

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there are no actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Division of Neuro- and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    C. Weisstanner, G. Kasprian & D. Prayer MD

  2. University Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    C. Weisstanner

  3. Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Integrative Morphology Group, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    G.M. Gruber & P.C. Brugger

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  1. C. Weisstanner
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  2. G. Kasprian
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  4. P.C. Brugger
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  5. D. Prayer MD
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Correspondence to D. Prayer MD.

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Weisstanner, C., Kasprian, G., Gruber, G. et al. MRI of the Fetal Brain. Clin Neuroradiol 25 (Suppl 2), 189–196 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-015-0413-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-015-0413-z

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