title: Extrafetal Findings on Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Pictorial Essay.
abstract: Although US is the mainstay of fetal imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an invaluable adjunct in recent years. MRI offers superb soft tissue contrast that allows for detailed evaluation of fetal organs, particularly the brain, which enhances understanding of disease severity. MRI can yield results that are similar to or even better than those of US, particularly in cases of marked oligohydramnios, maternal obesity, or adverse fetal positioning. Incidentally detected extrafetal MRI findings are not uncommon and may affect clinical care. Physicians interpreting fetal MRI studies should be aware of findings occurring outside the fetus, including those structures important for the pregnancy. A systematic approach is necessary in the reading of such studies. This helps to ensure that important findings are not missed, appropriate clinical management is implemented, and unnecessary follow-up examinations are avoided. In this pictorial essay, the most common extrafetal abnormalities are described and illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging/Radiology, Nemours Children׳s Hospital, Orlando, FL. Electronic address: monica.epelman@nemours.org.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Epelman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children׳s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: Arnold C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Merrow
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Radiology, Texas Children׳s Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Carolina V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Guimaraes
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Children׳s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Victoria
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children׳s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Calvo-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children׳s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: Beth M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kline-Fath
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D031901:Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000473:pathology*