title: Tumor disease and associated congenital abnormalities on prenatal MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fetal tumors can have a devastating effect on the fetus, and may occur in association with congenital malformations. In view of the increasing role of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an adjunct to prenatal ultrasonography (US), we sought to demonstrate the visualization of fetal tumors, with regard to congenital abnormalities, on MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 18 fetuses with tumors depicted on fetal MRI after suspicious US findings. An MRI standard protocol was used to diagnose tumors judged as benign or malignant. All organ systems were assessed for tumor-related complications and other congenital malformations. Available US results and histopathology were compared with MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 13/18 (72.2%) benign and 5/18 (27.8%) malignant tumors diagnosed: a cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor in 1/18, head-neck teratomas in 4/18; ventricular rhabdomyomas in 4/18; a cardiac teratoma in 1/18; a hepatoblastoma in 1/18; neuroblastomas in 2/18; a cystic hemorrhagic adrenal hyperplasia in 1/18; a pelvic leiomyoma in 1/18; sacrococcygeal teratomas in 3/18. Tumor-related complications were present in 13/18 (72.2%) cases; other congenital abnormalities in 3/18 (16.7%). MRI diagnosis and histology were concordant in 8/11 (72.7%) cases. In 6/12 (50%) cases, US and MRI diagnoses were concordant, and, in 6/12 (50%) cases, additional MRI findings changed the US diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our MRI results demonstrate the visualization of fetal tumors, with frequently encountered tumor-related complications, and other exceptional congenital abnormalities, which may provide important information for perinatal management. Compared to prenatal US, MRI may add important findings in certain cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. stefan.nemec@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Stefan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Nemec
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horcher
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kasprian
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Brugger
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bettelheim
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nemec
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rotmensch
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rimoin
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prayer
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity