title: Prenatal brain MRI of fetuses with Zika virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An outbreak of Zika virus was observed in French Polynesia in 2013-2014. Maternal Zika virus infection has been associated with fetal microcephaly and severe cerebral damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the MRI cerebral findings in fetuses with intrauterine Zika virus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data. Inclusion criteria comprised cases with (1) estimated conception date between June 2013 and May 2014, (2) available US and MRI scans revealing severe fetal brain lesions and (3) positive polymerase chain reaction for Zika virus in the amniotic fluid. We recorded pregnancy history of Zika virus infection and analyzed US and MRI scans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three out of 12 cases of severe cerebral lesions fulfilled all inclusion criteria. History of maternal Zika virus infection had been documented in two cases. Calcifications and ventriculomegaly were present at US in all cases. MRI showed micrencephaly (n = 3), low cerebellar biometry (n = 2), occipital subependymal pseudocysts (n = 2), polymicrogyria with laminar necrosis and opercular dysplasia (n = 3), absent (n = 1) or hypoplastic (n = 1) corpus callosum and hypoplastic brainstem (n = 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe cerebral damage was observed in our series, with indirect findings suggesting that the germinal matrix is the principal target for Zika virus. The lesions are very similar to severe forms of congenital cytomegalovirus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infections.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie, Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française, Pirae, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
authors.forename: Prisca
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guillemette-Artur
authors.affiliation: Service de Réanimation Néo-natale, Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française, Pirae, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Besnard
authors.affiliation: Service d'Obstétrique, Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française, Pirae, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eyrolle-Guignot
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Fœtale, Hôpital d'Enfants Armand-Trousseau, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jouannic
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôpital d'Enfants Armand-Trousseau, 26 Avenue du Dr Arnold Netter, Paris, France. catherine.garel@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garel
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011114:Polynesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Brain; Fetus; Intrauterine infection; Magnetic resonance imaging; Prenatal diagnosis; Ultrasound; Zika virus