Additional Findings from Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prenatal Sonographic Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Abnormalities
Erdem Yilmaz1, Baris Bakir2, Halil Ibrahim Kalelioglu3, Atil Yuksel3, Recep Has3, Burak Tatli4, Vuslat Lale Bakir5, Serra Sencer21Department of Radiology, Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey, 2Department of Radiology, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, 4Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating fetuses with a sonographic diagnosis of a central nerve system (CNS) anomaly. Methods: Fifty-four fetuses with the sonographic diagnosis of a CNS anomaly underwent fetal MRI. A postnatal brain MRI was performed for 9 infants. Results: Additional findings were seen with a prenatal MRI in 22 (40%) cases: subependymal nodules (n=2), cortical tubers (n=2), and 1 case each of partial and total agenesis of corpus callosum, pontocerebellar hypoplasia, hypoplastic brain stem, absence of basal ganglia, dysgenetic cerebellum, hyperintensity in the white matter, polymicrogyria, periventricular cyst, thyroglossal duct cyst, partial and total absence of interhemispheric fissure, herniation of inferior cerebellar vermis, arteriovenous fistula, mega cisterna magna, intraventricular hemorrhage, syrinx, and incomplete bony spur in the spinal canal. In all, 18 pregnancies were terminated based on the findings of the prenatal sonography and MRI. The diagnosis was unchanged in 7 cases following postnatal MRI. In 2 infants, additional findings (subependymal tuber and mega cisterna magna) were detected. Conclusion: Although sonography is an accurate diagnostic modality to evaluate fetuses with CNS anomalies, MRI contributes important additional information, especially regarding the cortical, subependymal, and posterior fossa regions.
Cite This Article
Yilmaz E, Bakir B, Kalelioglu H, Yuksel A, Has R, Tatli B, Bakir V, Sencer S. Additional Findings from Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prenatal Sonographic Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Abnormalities. EJMI. 2018; 2(3): 111-117
Corresponding Author: Erdem Yilmaz