Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The value of fast MR imaging as an adjunct to ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis

  • Pediatric
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MR imaging of the fetus to improve sonographic prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies. In 40 fetuses (not consecutive cases) with an abnormality diagnosed with ultrasound, additional MR imaging was performed. The basic sequence was a T2-weighted single-shot half Fourier (HASTE) technique. Head, neck, spinal, thoracic, urogenital, and abdominal fetal pathologies were found. This retrospective, observational study compared MR imaging findings with ultrasonographic findings regarding detection, topography, and etiology of the pathology. The MR findings were evaluated as superior, equal to, or inferior compared with US, in consent with the referring gynecologists. The role of these findings in relation to pregnancy management was studied and compared with postnatal follow-up in 30 of 40 babies. Fetal MRI technique was successful in 36 of 39 examinations and provided additional information in 21 of 40 fetuses (one twin pregnancy with two members to evaluate). More precise anatomy and location of fetal pathology (20 of 40 cases) and additional etiologic information (8 of 40 cases) were substantial advantages in cerebrospinal abnormalities [ventriculomegaly, encephalocele, vein of Galen malformation, callosal malformations, meningo(myelo)cele], in retroperitoneal abnormalities (lymphangioma, renal agenesis, multicystic renal dysplasia), and in neck/thoracic pathology [cervical cystic teratoma, congenital hernia diaphragmatica, congenital cystic adenomatoid lung malformation (CCAM)]. This improved parental counseling and pregnancy management in 15 pregnancies. In 3 cases, prenatal MRI findings did not correlate with prenatal ultrasonographic findings or neonatal diagnosis. The MRI provided a more detailed description and insight into fetal anatomy, pathology, and etiology in the vast majority of these selected cases. This improved prenatal parental counseling and postnatal therapeutic planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2a, b.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4a–c.
Fig. 5. a
Fig. 6. a
Fig. 7a–c.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kanal E (1994) Pregnancy and the safety of magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Imaging Clin North Am 2:309–317

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. de Certaines JD, Cathelineau G (2001) Safety aspects and quality assessment in MRI and MRS: a challenge for health care systems in Europe. J Magn Reson Imaging 13:632–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Dempsey MF, Condon B, Hadley DM (2001) Investigation of the factors responsible for burns during MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging 13:627–631

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Yip YP, Capriotti C, Yip JW (1995) Effects of MR exposure on axonal outgrowth in the sympathetic nervous system of the chick. J Magn Reson Imaging 5:457–462

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Foster MA, Knight CH, Rimmington JE, Mallard JR (1983) Fetal imaging by nuclear magnetic resonance: a study in goats. Work-in-progress. Radiology 149:193–195

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. McCarthy MS, Filly RA, Stark DD, Callen PW, Golbus MS, Hricak H (1985) Magnetic resonance imaging of fetal anomalies in utero: early experience. AJR 145:677–682

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Levine D, Hatabu H, Gaa J, Atkinson MW, Edelman RR (1996) Fetal anomaly revealed with fast MR sequences. AJR 167:905–908

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ertl-Wagner B, Lienemann A, Strauss A, Reiser MF (2002) Fetal magnetic resonance imaging: indications, technique, anatomical considerations and a review of fetal abnormalities. Eur Radiol 12:1931–1940

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Girard N (2002) Fetal MR imaging. Eur Radiol 12:1869–1871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Bosmans H, Van Hoe L, Gryspeerdt S, Kiefer B, Van Steenbergen W, Baert AL, Marchal G (1997) Single-shot T2-weighted MR imaging of the upper abdomen: preliminary experience with double-echo HASTE technique. AJR 169:1291–1293

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Goldberg BB (2000) Obstetric US imaging: the past 40 years. Radiology 215:622–629

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Amin RS, Nikolaidis P, Kawashima A, Kramer LA, Ernst RD (1999) Normal anatomy of the fetus at MR imaging. Radiographics 19: S201–S214

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Levine D, Barnes PD, Sher S, Semelka RC, Li W, McArdle CR, Worawattanakul S, Edelman RR (1998) Fetal fast MR imaging: reproducibility, technical quality, and conspicuity of anatomy. Radiology 206:549–554

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Levine D, Barnes PD, Madsen JR, Abbott J, Wong GP, Hulka C, Mehta T, Li W, Edelman RR (1999) Fetal CNS anomalies revealed on ultrafast MR imaging. AJR 172:813–818

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Chung HW, Chen CY, Zimmerman RA, Lee KW, Lee CC, Chin SC (2000) T2-weighted fast MR imaging with true FISP versus HASTE: comparative efficacy in the evaluation of normal fetal brain maturation. AJR 175:1375–1380

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Levine D, Barnes PB (1999) Cortical maturation in normal and abnormal fetuses as assessed with prenatal MR imaging. Radiology 210:751–758

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Huisman TA, Martin E, Kubik-Huch R, Marincek B (2002) Fetal magnetic resonance imaging of the brain: technical considerations and normal brain development. Eur Radiol 12:1941–1951

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Shinmoto H, Kashima K, Yuasa Y, Tanimoto A, Morikawa Y, Ishimoto H, Yoshimura Y, Hiramatsu K (2000) MR imaging of non-CNS fetal abnormalities: a pictorial essay. Radiographics 20:1227–1243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hubbard AM, Harty MP (2000) MRI for the assessment of the malformed fetus. Baillière's Clin Obstet Gynaecol 14:629–650

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Whitby E, Paley MN, Davies N, Sprigg A, Griffiths PD (2001) Ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging of central nervous system abnormalities in utero in the second and third trimester of pregnancy: comparison with ultrasound. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 108:519–526

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lan LM, Yamashita Y, Tang Y, Sugahara T, Takahashi M, Ohba T, Okamura H (2000) Normal fetal brain development: MR imaging with a half-Fourier rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement sequence. Radiology 215:205–210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Garel C, Brisse H, Sebag G, Elmaleh M, Oury J-F, Hassan M (1998) Magnetic resonance imaging of the fetus. Pediatr Radiol 28:201–211

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sonigo PC, Rypens FF, Carteret M, Delezoide A-L, Brunelle FO (1998) MR imaging of fetal cerebral anomalies. Pediatr Radiol 28:212–222

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Huisman TA, Wisser J, Martin E, Kubik-Huch R, Marincek B (2002) Fetal magnetic resonance imaging of the central nervous system: a pictorial essay. Eur Radiol 12:1952–1961

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Couture A (1994) Les lésions cérébrales anoxo-ischémiques. In: Couture A, Veyrac C, Baud C (eds) Echographie cérébrale du foetus au nouveau-né. Sauramps Medical, Montpellier, pp 183–248

  26. Walsh DS, Hubbard AM, Olutoye OO, Howell LJ, Crombleholme TM, Flake AW, Johnson MP, Adzick NS (2000) Assessment of fetal lung volumes and liver herniation with magnetic resonance imaging in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 183:1067–1069

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Rypens F, Metens T, Rocourt N, Sonigo P, Brunelle F, Quere MP, Guibaud L, Maugey-Laulom B, Durand C, Avni FE, Eurin D (2001) Fetal lung volume: estimation at MR imaging: initial results. Radiology 219:236–241

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Mahieu-Caputo D, Sonigo P, Dommergues M, Fournet JC, Thalabard JC, Abarca C, Benachi A, Brunelle F, Dumez Y (2001) Fetal lung volume measurement by magnetic resonance imaging in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 108:863–868

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Coakley FV, Lopoo JB, Lu Y, Hricak H, Albanese CT, Harrison MR, Filly RA (2000) Normal and hypoplastic fetal lungs: volumetric assessment with prenatal single-shot rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement MR imaging. Radiology 216:107–111

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000 , Leuven, Belgium

    L. Breysem, H. Bosmans, S. Dymarkowski, P. Demaerel, D. Vanbeckevoort & M. Smet

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000 , Leuven, Belgium

    D. Van Schoubroeck, I. Witters & J. Deprest

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000 , Leuven, Belgium

    C. Vanhole & P. Casaer

Authors
  1. L. Breysem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Bosmans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Dymarkowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Van Schoubroeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. I. Witters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. Deprest
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. P. Demaerel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. D. Vanbeckevoort
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. C. Vanhole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. P. Casaer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. M. Smet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Breysem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Breysem, L., Bosmans, H., Dymarkowski, S. et al. The value of fast MR imaging as an adjunct to ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis. Eur Radiol 13, 1538–1548 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-002-1811-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-002-1811-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation