title: Fetal MRI versus postnatal imaging in the MR-compatible incubator.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the aims of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is to avoid postnatal scanning. However, clinicians sometimes wish to have postnatal confirmation of prenatal findings. This study's purpose was to check whether there was indeed the added value of neonatal MRI performed in the MR-compatible incubator (INC) after fetal examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Material consists of 25 neonates (14 girls) who underwent prenatal and postnatal MRI in a 1.5 T scanner, the latter in INC. Mean time of prenatal MRI was 30th gestational week, of postnatal MRI-16th day of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 14 cases (56 %) postnatal findings were the same as prenatal ones. In 11 (44 %) postnatal MRI showed some different/new/more precise results, in two the differences were attributed to other factors than the advantage of postnatal MRI over prenatal one. Altogether then postnatal results were partly discordant with prenatal ones in 9/25 cases (36 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In most cases there was no added value of postnatal MRI as compared to prenatal one. This value lied in small details that could not have been noticed on prenatal MRI or required contrast medium administration to be noticed. On the other hand, MR examination performed with use of the dedicated neonatal coils in the MR-compatible incubator is a safe and reliable method of visualization of these small details with better spatial resolution thus helping to establish final diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Institute of Mother and Child, ul. Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland. zaklad.rtg@imid.med.pl.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bekiesinska-Figatowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Institute of Mother and Child, ul. Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romaniuk-Doroszewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Institute of Mother and Child, ul. Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duczkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Institute of Mother and Child, ul. Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duczkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Institute of Mother and Child, ul. Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iwanowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Institute of Mother and Child, ul. Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szkudlińska-Pawlak
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007185:Incubators; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Fetal MRI; MR-compatible incubator; Neonatal MRI; Postnatal diagnosis; Prenatal diagnosis