The use of combined ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of fetal anomalies.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the referral diagnosis based on prenatal ultrasound to diagnoses made following combined ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation at the Texas Children's Fetal Center (TCFC) and postnatal diagnosis.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of patients referred to the TCFC between September 2001 and July 2007 with a fetal structural malformation. Data were abstracted to compare the referral diagnosis to TCFC imaging diagnoses and both were compared to postnatal diagnosis.


RESULTS
Two hundred and twenty-four patients were referred who had a fetal US and MRI at TCFC. The most frequent indications were for abnormalities of the central nervous system (38%) and lung/thoracic cavity (34%), with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) the single most common referral diagnosis (n = 39; 17%). In 99 cases (42.7%) the referral diagnosis was concordant with the post-referral diagnosis, however, in 68 cases (29.3%) the post-referral diagnosis changed completely, and in 65 cases (28%) additional findings were discovered. Prenatal diagnoses following imaging at TCFC were concordant with postnatal diagnoses in 94.9% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined ultrasound and MRI provides additional diagnostic information or a corrected diagnosis in 57% of cases over the referral ultrasound diagnosis.
Santos
Xiomara M
XM
Texas Baylor College of Medicine, Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
Papanna
Ramesha
R
Johnson
Anthony
A
Cass
Darrell L
DL
Olutoye
Oluyinka O
OO
Moise
Kenneth J
KJ
Belleza-Bascon
Bella
B
Cassady
Christopher I
CI
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult