title: Post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging and its irreplaceable role in determining CNS malformation (hydranencephaly)--case report.
abstract: Post-mortem magnetic resonance appears to be a method supplementary to classic pathological-anatomical autopsy in determining foetal abnormalities. Frequently, it plays a key role, primarily where autopsy options are in some way limited (developed autolysis, dilatation of the ventricular system). This case report demonstrates that post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging can precisely determine the type of congenital malformation (hydranencephaly), by contrast to ultrasound, with which alobar holoprosencephaly has been described, often presenting a differential diagnosis problem. Pathological-anatomical autopsy was significantly limited due to this diagnosis and this methodology was incapable of unequivocally determining the type of malformation. We would like to demonstrate by this case report the necessity of performing post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging so that we may precisely determine the diagnosis as requested by the parents and also be able to answer the question posed by risks for future pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, First Medical School, General Teaching Hospital, Charles University in Prague, Praha, Czech Republic. man.van@post.cz
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaneckova
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goldova
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vitkova
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baxova
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrovicky
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sebron
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006832:Hydranencephaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy