Use of fetal magnetic resonance imaging in patients electing termination of pregnancy by dilation and evacuation☆
Section snippets
Material and methods
Patients who were included in this study underwent second-trimester ultrasound examination in our unit from February 2001 to July 2002. When a severe fetal CNS anomaly was suspected by ultrasound examination but a specific diagnosis could not be identified, MRI was offered for further evaluation. Cytogenetic testing was also recommended. Patients who were included in this study were those patients who opted to undergo D&E after undergoing extensive counseling about the ultrasound findings. MRI
Results
There were 7 patients who considered termination of pregnancy because of fetal CNS anomalies that were suggested by antenatal ultrasound examination. All 7 patients chose D&E as the mode for termination of pregnancy. MRI results in all 7 cases confirmed the presence of a CNS anomaly, further elucidated possible diagnoses, and provided information for patient counseling that was relevant to recurrence risks in subsequent pregnancies. All pregnancies were conceived spontaneously by healthy
Comment
MRI can be an effective tool to enhance or to confirm diagnosis when fetal autopsy is not possible. Guo et al3 compared MRI findings to pathologic reports from neonatal autopsy and induced abortions. Their results demonstrated a significant correlation between antenatal MRI and autopsy findings.
Our experience suggests that the use of MRI in patients who undergo evacuation because of fetal CNS anomalies can provide valuable information when sonographic findings are inconclusive. The 2 cases of
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Cited by (12)
Fetal MRI: An approach to practice: A review
2014, Journal of Advanced ResearchCitation Excerpt :MRI is useful in the assessment of pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios, which can limit the diagnostic sensitivity of US [50,51]. Prenatal counseling helps the family to decide between prenatal therapies, postnatal therapies or the interruption of the pregnancy [52]. Through accurate demonstration of the fetal disorder, prenatal MRI can play a role in determination pregnancy prognosis and management.
Fetal magnetic resonance imaging in midline malformations of the central nervous system and review of the literature
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2021, Developmental Medicine and Child NeurologyPrenatal ultrasound findings of holoprosencephaly spectrum: Unusual associations
2020, Prenatal DiagnosisDiagnostic value of prenatal MR imaging in the detection of brain malformations in fetuses before the 26th week of gestational age
2016, American Journal of NeuroradiologyHow to read and to report a fetal MRI examination
2016, MRI of Fetal and Maternal Diseases in Pregnancy
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Presented at the Twenty-third Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, San Francisco, California, February 3-8, 2003.