The Role Of Fetal MRI In Fetal Anomalies

Abstract

Fetal Activities Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has come up as one of the most important supplements to prenatal ultrasound in the comprehensive evaluation of fetal anomalies. It provides high soft tissue contrast, multiplanar imaging, and larger fields-of-view, which makes it especially useful when the results of ultrasound examination are not clear and confounded by maternal obesity, oligohydramnios or arduous fetal locations. Fetal MRI is particularly helpful in assessing the sites of central nervous system anomalies like ventriculomegaly, agenesis of corpus callosum, and neural tube defects. It is also important in the diagnosis of thoracic lesions (e.g. congenital diaphragmatic hernia), wall defects of the abdominal and genitourinary tract malformations. Recent discoveries in the field of rapid imaging sequences, such as SSFSE (Single Shot Fast Spin Echo) and motion-resistant techniques, have made a quantum step towards quality and diagnostic accuracy of the images without necessitating sedation of the fetus. MRI results will play a major part in multidisciplinary prenatal counseling and assist in choosing in case of continuation of the pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal intervention. It has been shown that fetal MRI can have a profound effect on clinical management as it changes it in over fifty percent of patients. Due to its non-invasiveness and significant diagnostic category, the use of fetal MRI inthe assessment of complex or ambiguous fetal anomalies observed on routine ultrasound is presently advocated as a standard practice in tertiary facilities.