title: Magnetic resonance imaging of fetal pelvic cysts.
abstract: The detection of fetal anomalies has improved in the last years as a result of the generalization of ultrasound pregnancy screening exams. The presence of a cystic imaging in the fetal pelvis is a relatively common finding, which can correspond to a real congenital cystic lesion or result from the anomalous liquid accumulation in a whole pelvic organ, mainly the urinary bladder, the uterus, or the vagina. In selected cases with poor prognosis and/or inconclusive echographic findings, magnetic resonance may bring additional information in terms of the characterization, anatomical location, and real extension of the pathology. This pictorial essay describes the normal pelvic fetal anatomy, as well as the most common pelvic cysts. It also describes the causes of an anomalous distension of the whole pelvic organs detected in utero, with emphasis on prenatal magnetic resonance imaging exams. Moreover, it proposes practical teaching points to reduce the differential diagnosis of these lesions based on the sex of the fetus, the division of the pelvis in anatomical spaces, and the imaging findings of the pathology. Finally, it discusses the real utility of complementary MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon, 46, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland.|Department of Radiology, Hospital of Yverdon, Rue d'Entremonts 11, Yverdon-les-Bains, 1400, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Styliani
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8291-9376
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Archontaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon, 46, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital of Geneve (HUG), Rue Willy-Donzé 6, Geneva, 1205, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanquinet
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon, 46, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meuli
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon, 46, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland. Leonor.alamo@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alamo
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Congenital cysts; Fetal MRI; Pelvic pathology; Prenatal diagnosis