Use of MRI in the diagnosis of fetal brain abnormalities in utero (MERIDIAN): a multicentre, prospective cohort study (original) (raw)

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

Qualitative health research, 2018

Ultrasound is routinely used as a prenatal screening and diagnostic tool but has limitations. Some anomalies in the developing fetal brain can be difficult to detect, and in utero magnetic resonance imaging (iuMRI) is increasingly used as an adjunct to ultrasound. However, understandings of patient perspectives of iuMRI technology are still developing. Our qualitative study of 41 mothers who experienced iuMRI was embedded in a diagnostic accuracy trial and aimed to inform policy recommendations that might stem from the clinical findings. Our analysis suggests that iuMRI is seen as useful, offering valuable additional information and helping women make decisions about care options at a difficult time. However, patients' experiences demonstrated the uncertainty and anxiety associated with the prenatal diagnosis (PND) process relating to brain anomalies including the challenges of their embodied contributions. Our findings suggest more could be done to reduce the impact on pregnant...

Additional value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of central nervous system anomalies: a systematic review of the literature

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2014

To analyze literature on the additional value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing central nervous system (CNS) anomalies suspected by ultrasound. A search was performed of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library and the reference lists of identified articles. Inclusion criteria were CNS anomalies suspected/diagnosed by ultrasound, MRI performed after ultrasound, and postmortem examination by autopsy or postnatal assessment. MOOSE guidelines were followed. Outcomes assessed were positive/negative agreement between ultrasound and MRI, additional information provided by MRI, and discordance between ultrasound and MRI. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of MRI were calculated using the DerSimonian-Laird method. Postnatal/postmortem examinations were used as the reference standard. We identified thirteen articles which included 710 fetuses undergoing both ultrasound and MRI. MRI confirmed ultrasound-positive findings in 65.4% of fetuses and provided additional information in ...

Diagnostic assessment of foetal brain malformations with intra-uterine MRI versus perinatal post-mortem MRI

Neuroradiology, 2019

Purpose To evaluate differences in diagnostic yield of intra-uterine foetal (iuMR) and post-mortem MRI (PMMR) for complex brain malformations, using autopsy as the reference standard. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre study spanning 2 years, we reviewed 13 terminated singleton pregnancies with a prenatal ultrasound finding of complex foetal cerebral abnormalities, referred for both iuMR and PMMR. The iuMR and PMMR studies of the brain were reported independently by two groups of radiologists, blinded to each other's reports. Descriptive statistics were used to compare differences in intracranial abnormalities with autopsy (and genetic testing, where present) as reference standard. Results The median gestational age at termination was 24.6 weeks (IQR 22-29) with median time between delivery and PMMR of 133 h (IQR 101-165). There was full concordance between iuMR and PMMR findings and autopsy in 2/13 (15.3%) cases. Partial concordance between both imaging modalities was present in 6/13 (46.2%) and total discordance in the remainder (5/13, 38.5%). When compared to autopsy, PMMR missed important key findings specifically for neuronal migration and cerebellar anomalies, whereas iuMR appeared to overcall CSF space abnormalities which were less crucial to reaching the final overall diagnosis. Conclusions iuMR should be performed to improve foetal phenotyping where there is a prenatal ultrasound for complex foetal brain abnormalities. Reliance on PMMR alone is likely to result in misdiagnosis in a majority of cases.

The Assessment of the Usefulness of Prenatal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Defects

Diagnostics

Central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities cause about 40% of infant deaths in the first year of life. In case of the detection of abnormalities by ultrasound, a pregnant woman should be offered prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI). The aims of our study were: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of pMRI in the diagnosis of selected fetal CNS defects; and (2) to assess the possibility of replacing postnatal tests with prenatal magnetic resonance. The prospective and observational study was conducted between 2014 and 2017 at the University Hospital in Krakow. Patients with suspected CNS defects of the fetus were qualified for pMRI in the third trimester of pregnancy. Sixty patients were included in the study group. Prenatal MRI was characterized by low accuracy in the diagnosis of complex brain defects. Cohen’s kappa coefficient κ = 0.21 (95% CI 0.00–0.46). No evidence was found suggesting the replacement of postnatal tests with pMRI. MRI was characterized by low consistency of di...

Agreement between prenatal ultrasound and 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of anomalies of the central nervous system: A single‐center experience in Slovakia

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics

ObjectiveTo assess the concordance of in‐utero magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings at 3.0T in fetuses with suspect abnormalities of the central nervous system (CNS) on ultrasonography.MethodsA retrospective study was done on 222 pregnant women indicated for fetal MRI, with the examination performed within 2 weeks from indication. The inclusion criteria for patients were age 18 years or older with the fetus at 18 weeks of gestation or more. Fetal CNS pathologies were divided into six categories: ventriculomegaly; supratentorial midline abnormalities (ACC); supratentorial space‐occupying lesions; abnormalities of the posterior fossa; destructive cerebral lesions; and cortical formation abnormalities (CFA). Chance‐adjusted agreement was assessed using unweighted Cohen’s kappa (κ).ResultsThe best agreement between ultrasound and MRI was observed in ventriculomegaly (κ=0.817; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76–0.88). There was only a moderate agreement in ACC (κ=0.483; 95% CI 0.35–0...

Fetal brain MRI: how it added to ultrasound diagnosis of fetal CNS anomalies-1 year experience

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, 2021

Background Central nervous system (CNS) anomalies are the most commonly diagnosed abnormalities of all fetal malformations and are usually primarily discovered on routine prenatal ultrasonography (US). Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technology with high soft tissue contrast that is documented to increase the diagnostic accuracy for detection of fetal brain anomalies. The aim of our study is to analyze the value of adding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the fetal brain to antenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of fetal central nervous system (CNS) anomalies. Results We diagnosed various CNS anomalies including twelve cases with infra- and supra-tentorial arachnoid cysts, six cases had Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) and its variants, 1 case with mega cisterna magna, 2 cases of holoprosencephaly, 1 case of hydranencephaly, 2 cases with supratentorial hydrocephalus, 1 case of craniopharyngioma, 6 cases with corpus callosum (CC) agenesis, 1 case of extradura...

Added value of fetal MRI as a complementary method to antenatal ultrasound in the assessment of non-CNS fetal congenital anomalies

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, 2022

Background Birth defects and congenital anomalies are different words used to describe developmental abnormalities that occur at birth. Congenital anomalies diagnosis during pregnancy is a difficult topic to which ultrasonography has made significant contributions. The availability of a generally safe, independent technique in the evaluation of prenatal anomalies would be a welcomed clinical and scientific alternative. Ultrasound (US) is the predominant modality for evaluating disorders related to fetus and pregnancy. In most situations, this examination by a professional operator offers sufficient information about fetal morphology, surroundings, and well-being. The abnormalities revealed by ultrasound can be subtle or inconclusive at times. MRI has been demonstrated to be useful in such circumstances in various studies. So the effective use of fetal MRI in the evaluation of non-CNS abnormalities of the body is a reason for adopting fetal MRI as an adjunct to US in obstetric imagin...

MRI of the foetal brain

Clinical Radiology, 2007

Ultrasound examinations for foetal brain abnormalities have been a part of the routine antenatal screening programme in the UK for many years. In utero brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now being used increasingly successfully to clarify abnormal ultrasound findings, often resulting in a change of diagnosis or treatment plan. Interpretation requires an understanding of foetal brain development, malformations and acquired diseases. In this paper we will outline the technique of foetal MRI, relevant aspects of brain development and provide illustrated examples of foetal brain pathology.