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Cutting-edge applications of fetal MR neuro-imaging in clinical routine: a pictorial essay

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Abstract

Over time, fetal MR neuro-imaging has undergone continuous improvement; presently, it plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of an expanding array of complex neurological conditions. Within this pictorial essay, our focus will be exclusively directed towards those cutting-edge clinical applications, which currently yield valuable diagnostic insights on a single case basis. Specifically, the pictorial examples will center on some abnormal entities and their features at an earlier fetal stage.

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Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Department, Children’s Hospital V. Buzzi, Milan, Italy

    Andrea Righini, Giana Izzo, Chiara Doneda, Filippo Arrigoni & Cecilia Parazzini

  2. Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Mario Tortora

  3. Neuroradiology Department, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy

    Giovanni Palumbo

Authors
  1. Andrea Righini
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  2. Mario Tortora
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  3. Giana Izzo
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  4. Chiara Doneda
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  5. Filippo Arrigoni
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  6. Giovanni Palumbo
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  7. Cecilia Parazzini
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Contributions

Conceptualization, methodology, and formal analysis and investigation: Andrea Righini; writing—original draft preparation: Andrea Righini and Mario Tortora; writing—review and editing: Andrea Righini, Mario Tortora, Giana Izzo, Chiara Doneda, Filippo Arrigoni, Giovanni Palumbo, and Cecilia Parazzini.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mario Tortora.

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Key points

Fetal magnetic resonance (MR) neuro-imaging has been demonstrated to offer supplementary information to prenatal ultrasonography (US) within clinical practice.

Fetal MR neuro-imaging has undergone continuous improvement on the technical and cultural ground and today offers cutting-edge applications, which impact on day-to-day clinical environment and in the context of individual patients.

The principal cutting-edge applications that broaden the role of fetal MR neuro-imaging within clinical practice are as follows: malformations of cortical development (MCD) at early fetal stage; brain mantle transient layering abnormalities; brainstem anomalies; acute ischemic or inflammatory brain lesions; brain edema and venous congestion; eye globe and optic nerve anomalies; inner ear anomalies; pituitary region anomalies.

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Righini, A., Tortora, M., Izzo, G. et al. Cutting-edge applications of fetal MR neuro-imaging in clinical routine: a pictorial essay. Neuroradiology 65, 1813–1823 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-023-03242-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-023-03242-6

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