Contribution of MRI to detect further anomalies in fetal ventriculomegaly.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting further anomalies in fetal ventriculomegaly (VM).


METHODS
From March 2006 to March 2008, fasting MRI scanning was performed on 70 women in whom ultrasonography (US) diagnosed fetal VM at Shengjing Hospital affiliated to the China Medical University. The US and MRIs were then compared.


RESULTS
US diagnosed 41 cases of unilateral VM and 29 cases of bilateral VM; 51 cases (72.86%) being mild, 17 cases moderate and 2 cases severe VM. Eight fetuses showed additional brain hemorrhage and other anomalies on MRI. Among these 8 cases, 1 (2.44%, 1/41) had unilateral VM, whereas 7 (24.13%, 7/29) had bilateral VM (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.007). On the other hand, 2 of 8 cases (25%) had mild VM, whereas 6 of 8 cases (75%) had moderate/severe VM (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
MRI mainly modified the US diagnoses when the fetus had bilateral VM or moderate/severe VM. The most common additional diagnosis was brain hemorrhage.
Yin
Shaowei
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital, Shenyang 110004, China.
Na
Quan
Q
Chen
Jing
J
Li-Ling
Jesse
J
Liu
Caixia
C
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*