Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging for more accurate detection of brain abnormalities: case reviews

Nomeda Valevičienė1, Greta Paulaitytė2

1 Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Vilnius University

2Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging is well known in all medicine specialities and is widely used to recognise derivations and anomalities that can not be seen using other techniques. Ultrasound is a routine test for fetuses because of its advantages: convenience; availability; affordability; real-time interpretation by the operator; it is better for calcified lesion, i.e. brain, liver, and placenta; real-time guidance of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, but in some cases additional diagnostic information is needed. Sonographic assessment of fetal brain is a challenge because the view is obstructed by two bony plates: fetal skull and maternal pelvis. Suspicion of fetal central nervous system anomalies is the most common indication of fetal magnetic resonance imaging. It provides significant information during pregnancy because of it‘s advantages: excellent tissue contrast for detection of subtle changes; large field of view for simultaneous evaluation of the whole fetal body and relationship with maternal structures; not limited by fetal position, ossification, oligohydramnios, or maternal obesity; off-line interpretation by pediatric neurologist or radiologist. Compared to US it is statistically known that MRI improves quality of diagnostics from <70% to >92%. (Meridian study).

Our focus is on comparing magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound methods to detect corpus callosum agenesis, after which diagnosis can be established and expected outcomes can be explored.

 

Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; ultrasound; fetus; brain abnormalities