Imaging during pregnancy: What the radiologist needs to know

Manifestations of Ovarian Cancer in Relation to Other Pelvic Diseases by MRI

Imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnostic approach of women with suspected ovarian cancer. MRI is widely used for preoperative characterization and risk stratification of adnexal masses. While epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has typical findings on MRI; there are several benign and malignant pelvic conditions that may mimic its appearance on imaging. Knowledge of the origin and imaging characteristics of a pelvic mass will help radiologists diagnose ovarian cancer promptly and accurately. Finally, in special subgroups, including adolescents and gravid population, the prevalence of various ovarian tumors differs from that of the general population and there are conditions which uniquely manifest during these periods of life.

Antenatal imaging: A pictorial review

Today, in parallel with the use of imaging modalities increases in all fields, the use of imaging methods in pregnant women is increasing. Imaging has become an integral component of routine pregnancy follow-up. Imaging provides parents with an early opportunity to learn about the current situation, including prenatal detection of anomalies or diseases, etiology, prognosis, and the availability of prenatal or postnatal treatments. Various imaging modalities, especially ultrasonography, are frequently used for imaging both maternal and fetal imaging. The goal of this review was to address imaging modalities in terms of usefulness and safety, as well as to provide demonstrative examples for disorders. And this review provides current information on selecting a safe imaging modality to evaluate the pregnant and the fetus, the safety of contrast medium use, and summarizes major pathological situations with demonstrative sonographic images to assist radiologists and obstetricians in everyday practice.

How Could Nanomedicine Improve the Safety of Contrast Agents for MRI during Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a delicate state, during which timely investigation of possible physiological anomalies is essential to reduce the risk of maternal and fetal complications. Medical imaging encompasses different technologies to image the human body for the diagnosis, course of treatment management, and follow-up of diseases. Ultrasound (US) is currently the imaging system of choice for pregnant patients. However, sonographic evaluations can be non-effective or give ambiguous results. Therefore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), due to its excellent tissue penetration, the possibility of acquisition of three-dimensional anatomical information, and its high spatial resolution, is considered a valid diagnostical alternative. Nevertheless, currently employed contrast agents to improve the MRI image quality are harmful to the fetus. Because of their ability to cross the placenta, their use on pregnant patients is avoided. This review will firstly recapitulate the most common non-obstetrical, obstetrical, and fetal indications for magnetic resonance imaging on pregnant women. Fetal safety risks, due to the use of strong magnetic fields and exogenous contrast agents, will be presented. Then, possible advantages of nanostructured contrast agents compared to current molecular ones are explored. Nanosystems’ characteristics affecting contrast efficiency, and their potential for improving contrast-enhanced MRI’s safety in pregnant women, are discussed. Lastly, promising examples of nanoparticles as safer alternatives to current MRI contrast agents in pregnancy are discussed.