JOURNAL OF THE CZECH PEDIATRIC SOCIETY AND THE SLOVAK PEDIATRIC SOCIETY

Čes-slov Pediat 2023, 78(6):315-323 | DOI: 10.55095/CSPediatrie2023/052

The current state of fetal imaging by magnetic resonance imaging

Pavla Hanzlíková1, 2, 3, Dominik Vilímek1, 4, Radek Martinek4, Patricie Delongová5, 6, Jan Pavlíček7
1 Ústav radiodiagnostický, FN Ostrava
2 Ústav zobrazovacích metod, OU Ostrava
3 Radiologická klinika, Lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Palackého a FN Olomouc
4 Katedra kybernetiky a biomedicínského inženýrství, Vysoká škola báňská - Technická univerzita Ostrava
5 Ústav patologie, FN Ostrava
6 Ústav patologie, OU Ostrava
7 Klinika dětského lékařství, Lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Palackého a FN Olomouc

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as a method of the second choice for fetal imaging, provides excellent spatial and contrast resolution for evaluating a wide range of pathological conditions, whether congenital or arising during pregnancy.

MR, as a method free of ionizing radiation, is together with ultrasound examination (UZ) a completely safe imaging method.

Because a standardized protocol scans the image, this imaging is not dependent on the examiner. It allows re-evaluation by the radiologist, clinical specialist and other doctors and specialists within the multidisciplinary team dedicated to the issue of prenatal fetal examination.

The benefit of MR imaging is a different principle of tissue morphological imaging compared to US examination. Another advantage of MR is the possibility of imaging not only morphologically but also using free water diffusion imaging - diffusion-weighting imaging (DWI), directional diffusion imaging (diffusion-tensor imaging -

DTI), metabolic composition imaging using spectroscopic methods (MR spectroscopy - MRS). Another option for viewing the fetus is a dynamic scan, where the vital functions of the fetus can be monitored over time, similar to an ultrasound. The use of contrast agents is a non-lege artis procedure in the Czech Republic and is not used in standard MR imaging of the fetus.

Keywords: fetus, magnetic resonance, fetal movement, DWI and DTI, MR section

Accepted: October 23, 2023; Published: December 11, 2023  Show citation

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Hanzlíková P, Vilímek D, Martinek R, Delongová P, Pavlíček J. The current state of fetal imaging by magnetic resonance imaging. Ces-slov Pediat. 2023;78(6):315-323. doi: 10.55095/CSPediatrie2023/052.
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