A. Vimercati, P. Greco, L. Vera, M. Resta, L. Selvaggi
The diagnostic role of "in utero” magnetic resonance imaging
Objective: To assess the diagnostic potential of Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the management of
ultrasonically diagnosed congenital anomalies.
Patients and Methods: Ninety-two patients were included
into the study after the ultrasonic diagnosis of
an abnormality. Sixty-three of these patients were affected
by an abnormality of the central nervous system
(CNS) and 29 by abnormalities in other apparatuses.
The GRE technique was used to obtain T1 and T2 star-weighted
images.
Results and Discussion: Satisfactory imaging was obtained
in all but one case. In order to define the "reliability"
of MRI for a given condition, a diagnostic score
was designed and separately given by the obstetrician and the radiologist involved in the case. MRI scored
less than ultrasonography for abnormalities of the fetal
contour and for large and complex distortion of the CNS
as holoprosencephaly. For subtle midbrain anomalies,
as well as for neuronal migration disorders, MRI definitely
was superior to sonography. For other anomalies,
as for example congenital diaphragmatic hernia, MRI
was better than conventional techniques in assessing
prognosis and outcome, but less reliable in assessing
associated anomalies.
MRI seems to be a valuable adjunct to us for prenatal
diagnosis of only selected fetal anomalies and requires
precise guidelines in a multidisciplinary approach to
prenatal pathology.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 27, 09/1999
Pages: 303 - 308
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