Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic accuracy of high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 Tesla (T) compared with that of stereomicroscopic autopsy for assessing first trimester fetuses.Methods: Nine consecutive cases of first trimester fetuses resulting from spontaneous and therapeutic pregnancy termination were considered. The cases were divided into two groups according to gestational age: the Embryo Group with cases of nine to 10 gestational weeks (GWs) and the Fetus Group with cases of 13 GWs. The first group was scanned using three-dimensional fast imaging with steady state precession (3D FISP), and the second group was scanned using a two-dimensional (2D) turbo spin-echo high-resolution T2-weighted imaging (T2 WI) protocol. A radiologist and two embryologists interpreted the images. All cases were evaluated by invasive autopsy, with pathologist blinded to the imaging results. In total, the database included 270 items for evaluation (9 cases × 30 structures/case). Results:The global agreement between fetal high-field virtopsy and microscopic or stereomicroscopic autopsy was evaluated using 225 evaluation items visible by both methods. Overall, using microscopic examination and stereomicroscopic autopsy as the gold standard, fetal high-field virtopsy had a sensitivity of 94.6% [95% CI, 87.2-98.3] and a specificity of 97.6% [95% CI, 95-98.8]. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 93% [95% CI, 85.7-96.6], and the negative predictive value (NPV) was

Brain injury of the surviving twin from monochorionic pregnancies following intrauterine fetal demise during the second and third trimesters is a rare but severe complication. Monochorionicity and gestational age at the time of stillbirth seem to be decisive factors in terms of long-term neurologic outcome prediction for the survivor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in particular, seem to bring the earliest and most accurate diagnosis. Ultrasound detection of brain damage is possible in later stages of fetal brain injury. It is essential to provide early diagnosis and multidisciplinary counsel to the parents to ensure informed decision making. For couples who choose to terminate pregnancy legislation related to late abortion might lead to further distress. Our paper aims to stress the importance of MRI DWI in the evaluation of surviving twins following single intrauterine fetal demise in monochorionic pregnancies and the delicate context of the medical professionals and parents facing this clinical situation, sometimes complicated by legal constraints.

The present study provides our clinical experience regarding the imaging diagnosis, management and postnatal outcome of neonates prenatally suspected of having developed ovarian cysts. This multicenter observational study included patients diagnosed prenatally with fetal ovarian cysts and follow-up in the postnatal period. Descriptive statistics were used to render the information regarding the prenatal imaging aspect of the fetal pelvic masses using ultrasound and/or MRI, prenatal surveillance and postnatal neonate’s immediate outcome, indications leading to surgery and pathologic aspect. The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 21 patients. The mean gestational age at the time of initial diagnosis was 31.28 weeks of gestation (WG). Only five out of 21 cysts regressed completely during pregnancy without postnatal complications. In addition, 11 out of 21 infant’s required surgical treatment in the first two weeks after birth, mainly for ovarian torsion. Five out of 21 neonates were referred to postnatal follow-up clinically and by ultrasound, but three out of five cases required emergency surgical treatment for acute complications. Ultrasound plays a major role in the diagnostic of fetal ovarian cyst. From our experience, MRI does not bring supplementary data or change the management. Spontaneous resolution of fetal ovarian cysts is to be expected but the ovarian mass could lead to serious complications, if resolution does not occur in due time.

Objective To determine the diagnostic value of virtual autopsy using post mortem-MRI (pm-MRI) at 3Tesla (T) compared to classic autopsy for the confirmation of fetal structural anomalies and secondly to establish which cases of termination of pregnancy would benefit mostly from a virtual autopsy. Methods In each of 32 fetuses included in the study, 32 anatomical structures were assessed, after termination of pregnancy in the second trimester. All cases were evaluated by prenatal ultrasonography, virtual autopsy and classic autopsy, and then divided into four groups: Cerebral Group, Cardiac Group, Renal Group and Other Group (miscellaneous group). The concordance of virtual autopsy with classic autopsy was calculated overall and for each group and each structural item. Also, the concordance between the two methods was assessed using a diagnostic error score (DgE_score), calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the number of malformations detected by classic autopsy per case (CA score) and the number of malformations detected at virtual autopsy per case (VA score). Results Overall virtual autopsy demonstrated a diagnostic sensitivity (Se) compared to classic autopsy of 67.33% [95% CI 57.28–76.33], with a specificity (Sp) of 98.37% [95% CI 97.33–99.09], a positive predictive value (PPV) of 81.93% [95% CI 71.95–89.52], a negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.49% [95% CI 95.11–97.57] achieving a diagnostic accuracy of 95.31% [95% CI 93.83–96.52]. Overall, no statistic significant correlation was demonstrated between DgE_score and the gestational age of the fetuses or between DgE_score and the weight of the fetuses, but a significant correlation was revealed between the virtual autopsy and classic autopsy score. The diagnostic utility of virtual autopsy using pm-MRI at 3 T as compared to classic autopsy for each category of termination of pregnancy revealed in the Cerebral Group a Se of 80.00% [95% CI 28.36–99.49], with a 96.30% [95% CI 81.03–99.91], a PPV of 80.00% [95% CI 35.75–96.64] a NPV of 96.30% [95% CI 81.81–99.34], with a diagnostic accuracy of 93.75% [95% CI 79.19% to 99.23] and a Cohen’s Kappa coefficient of 0.76 [95% CI 0.4494–1.0765]; in the Renal Group a Se and Sp of 100%, but in the Cardiac Group the Se was only 60.00% [95% CI 26.24–87.84], Sp 75% [95% CI 34.91–96.81], the PPV 75.00% [95% CI 44.92–91.69], NPV 60% [95% CI 38.87–77.96], with a diagnostic accuracy of 66.67% [95% CI 40.99–86.66] and a Cohen’s Kappa coefficient of 0.32 [95% CI -0.07–0.76]. Conclusions The results support virtual autopsy using pm-MRI at 3T as a reliable alternative to classic autopsy for the non-forensic analysis of second trimester fetuses. Analyzing the diagnostic utility of virtual autopsy using pm-MRI at 3 T for the confirmation of prenatal ultrasound findings in second trimester fetuses as compared to classic autopsy, the best results were obtained in the Cerebral and Renal Group. Reserved results were found in the Cardiac Group. Therefore, for the pregnancies with termination of pregnancy for cerebral or renal abnormalities, virtual autopsy by pm-MRI at 3T can be taken into consideration as a first-line investigation to confirm the prenatal findings.

The examination of very small fetal hearts requires special equipment and a specialist that are not available in many general pathology laboratories. Compared to conventional examination, the four-chamber cardiac dissection (4CCD) method can be performed by any pathologist using instruments generally available in pathology services. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the 4CCD method in the examination of small fetal hearts using post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (pm-MRI) at 7T as the standard. Twelve fetuses with gestational ages between 13 and 19 weeks have been included in this study. All fetuses underwent pm-MRI examination prior to pathologic examination. The 4CCD method was used for the cardiac examination in all cases following the same guidelines for cardiac sectioning. The 4CCD was able to identify all cardiac anatomic structures as compared to pm-MRI at 7T, demonstrating a sensibility of 95.8% (95% CI, 94.5–95.8) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 32.3–100). The overall accuracy in identifying cardiac anatomic structures was 95.8% (95% CI, 93.4–95.8). Additionally, the 4CCD method was able to detect cardiac anomalies with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 91% (95% CI, 85.8–94.2), sensibility of 67.6% (95% CI, 54.5–75.3), and specificity of 97% (95% CI, 93.7–99) as compared to pm-MRI at 7T. The four-chamber view dissection method can be considered as an alternative to the conventional inflow–outflow dissection method in selected cases.