Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Abstract

Knowledge of the anatomy of the developing fetal brain is essential to detect abnormalities and understand their pathogenesis. Capability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the brain in utero and to differentiate between its various tissues makes fetal MRI a potential diagnostic and research tool for the developing brain. This article provides an approach to understand the normal and abnormal brain development through schematic interpretation of fetal brain MR images. MRI is a potential screening tool in the second trimester of pregnancies in fetuses at risk for brain anomalies and helps in describing new brain syndromes with in utero presentation. Accurate interpretation of fetal MRI can provide valuable information that helps genetic counseling, facilitates management decisions, and guides therapy. Fetal MRI can help in better understanding the pathogenesis of fetal brain malformations and can support research that could lead to disease-specific interventions.

High Resolution MRI Reveals Detailed Layer Structures in Early Human Fetal Stages: In Vitro Study with Histologic Correlation

“…After embryo stage (which occurs before 10 gestational weeks, GW), early fetal period is considered to be between 10–13 GW, while midfetal period, otherwise known as early second trimester, occurs between 15–18 GW (Vasung et al, 2011 ). Better understanding of human fetal brain development is critical to assess developmental abnormalities that often cause various neurological and psychiatric disorders later in life (du Plessis and Volpe, 2002 ; Glenn and Barkovich, 2006a , b ; Rakic, 2006 ; Saleem, 2013 ). Unlike the internationally accepted Carnegie system staging that is used to describe the human embryonic brain ( https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Carnegie_Stages ), there is no standard staging system in place yet for the fetal period.…”

Biometry of the Cerebellar Vermis and Brain Stem in Children: MR Imaging Reference Data from Measurements in 718 Children

“…To our knowledge, this is the first reference biometric data for the vermis and the brain stem in children. Previous studies assessed normal MR imaging biometric data of the posterior fossa in the fetus, 7,[16][17][18] and quantitative methods have already been used to diagnose vermis hypoplasia, but no MR imaging biometric data of the normal cerebellum and brain stem have been reported before. Makris et al 9 described a surface-based parcellation of the human cerebellar cortex and provide cerebellar surface and volumetry from 10 volunteer subjects with a good-to-excellent reproducibility.…”

MRI for Fetal Developmental Brain Abnormalities: Perspectives From the Pregnant Patient

“…The literature on the topic of iuMRI in PND is limited and confined mainly to clinical and psychological studies of the impact of this new technology on women (Adamsbaum et al, 2008; Leithner et al, 2008; Saleem, 2013). On the contrary, there is an extensive literature on patients’ experiences of US in prenatal screening and diagnosis (Ahman et al, 2010; Lalor & Begley, 2006; Mitchell, 2004; Van der Zalm & Byrne, 2006).…”

“…In utero MRI (iuMRI) 2 has overcome problems presented by fetal lie and maternal body shape, while the development of ultrafast imaging methods negates many of the obstacles associated with fetal movement. IuMRI of fetal brain abnormalities is a clinically useful adjunct to diagnostic ultrasound from as early as 18 weeks gestational age (Blondiaux & Garel, 2013; Griffiths et al, 2017; Saleem, 2013); in cases of apparently isolated ventriculomegaly (VM) 3 diagnosed by US, iuMRI has been shown to increase the detection of other brain abnormalities particularly agenesis of the corpus callosum 4 (Blaicher et al, 2003). IuMRI thus has the potential to influence clinical management (Griffiths et al, 2017; Saleem, 2013).…”