The fetus at term: in utero volume-selected proton MR spectroscopy with a breath-hold technique--a feasibility study

Radiology. 2001 May;219(2):563-6. doi: 10.1148/radiology.219.2.r01ma29563.

Abstract

In three healthy gravidas at 38 and 39 weeks gestation, fetal MR spectroscopy was performed with a breath-hold technique by using the following pulse sequences: single voxel point-resolved spectroscopy, or PRESS, for liver and heart studies and stimulated-echo acquisition mode, or STEAM, for brain studies. Signal peaks of lipid from heart and liver were detected, as were the signal peaks of choline, creatine, and N-acetylaspartate from fetal brain. Findings demonstrated the feasibility of performing proton MR spectroscopy to assess mobile fetal structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / embryology
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Fetus / chemistry*
  • Heart / embryology
  • Humans
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Liver / embryology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Myocardium / chemistry
  • Pregnancy