title: The use of combined ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of fetal anomalies.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Texas Baylor College of Medicine, Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Xiomara M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Ramesha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papanna
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Darrell L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cass
authors.forename: Oluyinka O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Olutoye
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Moise
authors.forename: Bella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belleza-Bascon
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Cassady
mesh_terms: 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