VIBE MRI for evaluating the normal and abnormal gastrointestinal tract in fetuses.
OBJECTIVE
The great potential of MRI for assessing gastrointestinal abnormalities in fetuses has been described. T1-weighted images may add additional information to T2-weighted images in diagnosing fetal gastrointestinal abnormalities. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of a 3D volumetric interpolated breath-hold sequence (VIBE) in evaluating the normal and abnormal fetal gastrointestinal tract.


CONCLUSIONS
VIBE provides high-quality T1-weighted and 3D MR colonography images for the evaluation of the normal and abnormal gastrointestinal tract in fetuses, and 3D MR colonography provides excellent delineation of the meconium.
Inaoka
Tsutomu
T
Department of Radiology, Asahikawa Medical College, 2-1-1-1 Midorigaoka-Higashi, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan. tinaoka@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
Sugimori
Hiroyuki
H
Sasaki
Yoshihito
Y
Takahashi
Koji
K
Sengoku
Kazuo
K
Takada
Nobuhisa
N
Aburano
Tamio
T
D016477:Artifacts; D004065:Digestive System Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity