Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Fetal Brain and Spine: An Increasingly Important Tool in Prenatal Diagnosis, Part 1

• Published in: American Journal of Neuroradiology Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 1604 - 1611
• Main Authors: Glenn, O.A, Barkovich, A.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Brook, IL Am Soc Neuroradiology 01.09.2006; American Society of Neuroradiology
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brain - abnormalities; Brain - embryology; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gestational Age; Humans; Image Enhancement; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Infant, Newborn; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Nervous system; Nervous System Malformations - diagnosis; Nervous System Malformations - embryology; Perception; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis; Prognosis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Review; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spinal Cord - abnormalities; Spinal Cord - embryology; Spine - abnormalities; Spine - embryology; Vision; Osteoarticular system; Prenatal; Nervous system diseases; Radiodiagnosis; Spine; Central nervous system; Diagnosis; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Encephalon
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X; 1432-1920

Fetal MR imaging is an increasingly available technique used to evaluate the fetal brain and spine. This is made possible by recent advances in technology, such as rapid pulse sequences, parallel imaging and advances in coil design. This provides a unique opportunity to evaluate processes that cannot be approached by any other current imaging technique and affords a unique opportunity for studying in vivo brain development and early diagnosis of congenital abnormalities inadequately visualized or undetectable by prenatal sonography. This 2-part review summarizes some of the latest developments in MR imaging of the fetal brain and spine and its application to prenatal diagnosis. This first part discusses the utility, safety, and technical aspects of fetal MR imaging, the appearance of normal fetal brain development, and the role of fetal MR imaging in the evaluation of fetal ventriculomegaly. The second part focuses on additional clinical applications of fetal MR imaging, including suspected abnormalities of the corpus callosum, malformations of cortical development, and spine abnormalities.