title: Post-mortem whole-body magnetic resonance imaging of human fetuses: a comparison of 3-T vs. 1.5-T MR imaging with classical autopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively compare diagnostic accuracy of fetal post-mortem whole-body MRI at 3-T vs. 1.5-T.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2012 and 2015, post-mortem MRI at 1.5-T and 3-T was performed in fetuses after miscarriage/stillbirth or termination. Clinical MRI diagnoses were assessed using a confidence diagnostic score and compared with classical autopsy to derive a diagnostic error score. The relation of diagnostic error for each organ group with gestational age was calculated and 1.5-T with 3-T was compared with accuracy analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  135 fetuses at 12-41 weeks underwent post-mortem MRI (followed by conventional autopsy in 92 fetuses). For all organ groups except the brain, and for both modalities, the diagnostic error decreased with gestation (P < 0.0001). 3-T MRI diagnostic error was significantly lower than that of 1.5-T for all anatomic structures and organ groups, except the orbits and brain. This difference was maintained for fetuses <20 weeks gestation. Moreover, 3-T was associated with fewer non-diagnostic scans and greater concordance with classical autopsy than 1.5-T MRI, especially for the thorax, heart and abdomen in fetuses <20 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-mortem fetal 3-T MRI improves confidence scores and overall accuracy compared with 1.5-T, mainly for the thorax, heart and abdomen of fetuses <20 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • In PM-MRI, diagnostic error using 3-T is lower than that with 1.5-T. • In PM-MRI, diagnostic scan rate is higher using 3-T than 1.5-T. • In PM-MRI, concordance with classical autopsy increases with 3-T. • PM-MRI using 3-T is particularly interesting for thoracic and abdominal organs. • PM-MRI using 3-T is particularly interesting for fetuses < 20 weeks' gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Place A. Van Gehuchten 4, 1020, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.|Department of Radiology, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mieke M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cannie
authors.affiliation: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.|UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Owen J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Arthurs
authors.affiliation: Department of Fetopathology, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Segers
authors.affiliation: Department of Fetopathology, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fourneau
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Place A. Van Gehuchten 4, 1020, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Place A. Van Gehuchten 4, 1020, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cos Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.|UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sebire
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Place A. Van Gehuchten 4, 1020, Brussels, Belgium. jackjani@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jacques C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jani
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005333:Fetus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050497:Stillbirth; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods
keywords: 3-Tesla; Accuracy; Classical post-mortem; Post-mortem MRI; Virtual autopsy