Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the current reference standard-ultrasound with in utero magnetic resonance imaging, in a selected group of patients.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Five fetal maternal tertiary referral centres and an academic radiology unit.
Sample: One hundred cases of fetuses with central nervous system abnormalities where there has been diagnostic difficulties on ultrasound. In 48 cases the women were less than 24 weeks of gestation and in 52 cases later in pregnancy.
Methods: All women were imaged on a 1.5 T clinical system using a single shot fast spin echo technique. The results of antenatal ultrasound and in utero magnetic resonance were compared.
Main outcome measures: The definitive diagnosis was made either at autopsy or by postmortem magnetic resonance imaging, in cases that went to termination of pregnancy, or a combination of postnatal imaging and clinical follow up in the others.
Results: In 52 of cases, ultrasound and magnetic resonance gave identical results and in a further 12, magnetic resonance provided extra information that was judged not to have had direct effects on management. In 35 of cases, magnetic resonance either changed the diagnosis (29) or gave extra information that could have altered management (6). In 11 of the 30 cases where magnetic resonance changed the diagnosis, the brain was described as normal on magnetic resonance.
Conclusions: In utero magnetic resonance imaging is a powerful tool in investigating fetal brain abnormalities. Our results suggest that in selected cases of brain abnormalities, detected by ultrasound, antenatal magnetic resonance may provide additional, clinically useful information that may alter management.