title: MRI during pregnancy.
abstract: The use of ultrasonography (USG) during pregnancy provides a tremendous amount of valuable information about fetal and maternal well-being. However, in some cases the image quality may be poor due to maternal fat tissue, fetal position, or some other reason. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide clear images from multiple angles without X-ray exposure. We believe that it is important to evaluate the usefulness of MRI for diagnostic purposes during pregnancy. While MRI can provide different information to what can be obtained from USG, it is not always superior to USG. The clinical indications for MRI during pregnancy are limited but well defined. Fetal MRI is a valuable complement to USG especially in the further evaluation of problems first detected by USG. When MRI is performed, we must consider its purpose and accordingly determine the appropriate procedure to provide the most precise and useful diagnostic information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Tsukasamachi Gifu City, Gifu, Japan. kawabata@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawabata
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Shigenori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwagaki
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamaya
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis