Benefits and risks of MRI in pregnancy

Fetal Consultation, Delivery Planning, and Perinatal Transition for Congenital Neurologic Disorders

Anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS) are a frequent referral indication for perinatal evaluation and management through fetal neurology consultation. This multidisciplinary field is evolving quickly to provide adequate care throughout the perinatal continuum. In this article, we will highlight current practice standards in fetal neurology as well as unique challenges, important considerations for fetal and postnatal care of infants with congenital neurologic conditions, and future outlooks for improving the care of patients and families impacted by CNS anomalies.

Fetal Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: History, Current Status, and Future Directions

Fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a complementary modality for prenatal imaging in suspected congenital heart disease. Ongoing technical improvements extend the potential clinical value of fetal cardiovascular MRI. Ascertaining equivocal prenatal diagnostics obtained with ultrasonography allows for appropriate parental counseling and planning of postnatal surgery. This work summarizes current acquisition techniques and clinical applications of fetal cardiovascular MRI in the prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of fetuses with congenital heart disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

From Traditional to Cutting-Edge: A Review of Fetal Well-Being Assessment Techniques

The birth of a new life, which should be a blessing to everyone, is regrettably not always the case. According to the latest data, the worldwide rate of stillbirths in 2022 stood at 13.9 stillbirths per 1,000 total births. This translates to one stillborn baby for every 72 total births, occurring at a frequency of one every 17 seconds. This article reviews antenatal fetal monitoring techniques that can help patients and healthcare providers recognize and intervene in a timely manner to prevent conditions that threaten fetal well-being. Various fetal well-being assessment methods have been explored. The most used techniques include the non-stress test, contraction stress test, and biophysical profile that encompass both fetal movement and fetal heart rate. This review delves into technologies used for antenatal diagnostic methods, ranging from traditional methods to contemporary advancements. The presented categories serve as a guide, recommending techniques tailored to specific pregnancy stages and observational purposes.

Correlation between pelvic floor four-dimensional ultrasound parameters and POP-Q score

BackgroundPelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent ailment that lowers a woman's quality of life and for which precise diagnosis techniques are required for successful treatment. Advanced imaging techniques may be beneficial for traditional clinical assessments like the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to look into the relationship between the POP-Q score and four-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasonography parameters in women who have been diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse.MethodsWe included 120 female patients who presented with symptoms consistent with pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic cancers, a history of hysterectomy, and the incapacity to execute Valsalva maneuvers were among the exclusion criteria. The pelvic floor was imaged in three dimensions using a color Doppler ultrasonography equipment (GE, Voluson E8 Edition) both at rest and during Valsalva maneuvers. Important variables, such as the posterior bladder angle and bladder neck distance, were examined and contrasted with POP-Q evaluations.ResultsAccording to the study, an ultrasonography was used to detect Green II prolapse in 63 individuals and Green III prolapse in 57 patients. The ultrasonography results and clinical POP-Q diagnosis agreed rather well (Kappa = 0.572). Furthermore, there was a substantial association found between the four-dimensional ultrasound characteristics and the POP-Q stages, suggesting that ultrasonography is a useful tool for visualizing pelvic floor structures.ConclusionsAccording to the results, four-dimensional ultrasonography has a strong correlation with the POP-Q score and is a useful method for evaluating pelvic floor dysfunction. This imaging modality advances our knowledge of the dynamics of the pelvic floor and might lead to more accurate diagnoses for female patients with prolapsed pelvic organs.

How MRI imaging for an ovarian cyst led to diagnosis of short cervix

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during pregnancy is a growing diagnostic modality for a variety of different indications including fetal anomalies and maternal masses. A literature search did not find any case reports diagnosing a short cervix on MRI before 20 weeks gestation.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 34-year-old female underwent magnetic resonance imaging for further evaluation of a known ovarian cyst which demonstrated a multiseptated cystic mass measuring 15.5 × 9.9 × 18.5 cm in the right adnexa at 19 weeks gestation. An incidental finding on MRI of "bulging of membranes into the cervical canal to the level of the external os" was noted. The patient had 3 prior full-term cesarean deliveries with no history of short cervix. Ultrasound confirmed dilated cervix with no measurable cervix. The patient underwent a rescue cerclage.

CONCLUSION

This case describes an unmeasurable cervix diagnosed incidentally during an MRI to characterize a large adnexal mass. In pregnancy, MRI can be a useful imaging modality to evaluate fetal anatomy, placental position and implantation, and abdominal and pelvic structures. In this case, evaluation of the uterus and cervix during imaging for an adnexal mass allowed for detection of an unmeasurable cervix and intervention with a rescue cerclage.

An exploratory fetal MRI study examining the impact of 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome on early brain growth

BACKGROUND

Improved long-term outcomes, related to advances in surgical and clinical care of infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), has shifted focus onto the accompanying and later-onset cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders in those who also have 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22qDS). 22qDS is itself associated with neurodevelopmental impairments and altered brain growth. However, when brain growth in 22qDS first deviates from normal is unknown, and whether impaired brain development is primarily genetics-driven or a secondary consequence of the underlying CHD remains incompletely understood.

METHODS

In this small, exploratory study, we use fetal MRI to assess volumetric brain development in 22qDS by comparing fetal brain morphometry to a set of gestation and sex-matched healthy controls, and a cohort of gestation and sex-matched fetuses with the same CHD diagnoses but without 22q11.2 deletion. Structural T2-weighted fetal brain images were acquired using a 1.5T MRI scanner. MR scanner and sequence parameters were identical in all cohorts. Motion-corrected images underwent segmentation using an automated pipeline developed for fetal brain MRI. Total brain tissue volumes, volumes for four different tissue regions (cortical grey matter, white matter, deep grey matter and cerebellum), cerebrospinal fluid and total intracranial volumes were calculated.

RESULTS

Antenatal imaging was acquired between 29 and 35 weeks gestation. Thirty-three fetuses were included (7 22qDS; 14 isolated CHD; 12 healthy control). White matter volumes were significantly reduced in fetuses with 22qDS compared to control fetuses (p = 0.028), but not to those with CHD without 22q11.2 deletion (p = 0.09). Large effect-sizes were seen between the 22qDS and isolated CHD cohorts (DCohen = 0.81), and between the 22qDS and control cohorts (DCohen = 1.2) for white matter volumes. No significant differences were seen in volumes of other brain regions between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory study expands our existing knowledge on neurodevelopmental impairments in 22qDS to the fetal period by highlighting reduced white matter volumes compared to gestation and sex-matched control fetuses during this time-period. Our findings suggest that impaired white matter growth in fetuses with both 22qDS and CHD may not be fully explained by any underlying CHD.

[Health risks for medical personnel due to magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging]

The current state of medical and scientific knowledge on the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields on workers in the field of clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is summarized here.A systematic literature search was conducted to analyze the health risks to medical personnel from magnetic fields in MRI. A total of 7273 sources were identified, with 7139 being excluded after screening of the title and abstract. After full-text screening, 34 sources remained and were included in this paper.There are a number of scientific publications on the occurrence of short-term sensory effects such as vertigo, metallic taste, phosphenes as well as on the occurrence of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral effects. For example, short-term exposure to clinical magnetic fields has been reported to result in a 4% reduction in speed and precision and a 16% reduction in visual contrast sensitivity at close range. Both eye-hand precision and coordination speed are affected. The long-term studies concern, among other things, the influence of magnetic fields on sleep quality, which could be linked to an increased risk of accidents. The data on the exposure of healthcare workers to magnetic fields during pregnancy is consistently outdated. However, it has been concluded that there are no particular deviations with regard to the duration of pregnancy, premature births, miscarriages, and birth weight. Epidemiological studies are lacking. With a focus on healthcare personnel, there is a considerable need for high-quality data, particularly on the consequences of long-term exposure to electromagnetic fields from clinical MRI and the effects on pregnancy. · Short-term sensory effects such as vertigo, metallic taste, phosphenes as well as neurocognitive and neurological behavioral effects may occur upon exposure to magnetic fields.. · Long-term effects mainly concern quality of sleep, which can be associated with an increased risk of accidents.. · When pregnant women were exposed to magnetic fields, no particular deviations were found with regard to the duration of pregnancy, premature births, miscarriages, and birth weight.. · König AM, Pöschke A, Mahnken AH. Health risks for medical personnel due to magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging. Rofo 2025; 197: 135-144.

Intravoxel incoherent motion MRI to assess feto-placental diffusion and perfusion properties in small fetuses

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the use of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) to study microperfusion and microstructural characteristics of lungs, brain, and placenta in normal and small fetuses.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 30 small fetuses and 82 normal pregnancies who underwent a 1.5-T MRI examination using an IVIM-DWI. Small fetuses were distinguished in small for gestational age (SGA) and "true" fetal growth restriction (FGR). ROIs were placed on the brain parenchyma, lungs, and fetal/maternal placental sides. Differences in perfusion fraction f, diffusion coefficient D, and pseudo-diffusion coefficient D* and their correlation with gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) were investigated.

RESULTS

LUNG: f showed significantly lower values (p = 2·10-7) in small fetuses (SGA + FGR); f discriminates SGA and FGR from normal (p = 0.001; p = 1·10-6). f increases with GA (p < 0.0001) in the control group; a positive correlation was also obtained in small fetuses, although less significant.

PLACENTA

FGR showed lower f values than normal ones, in both the fetal (p = 1.4·10-7) and maternal side (p = 0.001); f discriminates between SGA and FGR (p = 0.03). In small fetuses (SGA + FGR), f correlates positively with BW.

BRAIN

D values in supratentorial white matter (WM) were significantly higher compared to other regions, in both normal and small fetuses. Small fetuses showed higher D values in occipital WM and pons (p = 0.041; p = 0.027) than in normal. D correlates negatively with GA in the healthy group. No correlation between D and GA was found in SGA + FGR group.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, IVIM-MRI allowed us to detect microstructural and microperfusion changes in the placenta, brain, and lung of small fetuses, noninvasively.

Magnetic resonance imaging for acute appendicitis in pregnancy: can clinical scores predict when imaging is needed?

PURPOSE

Advanced imaging may augment the diagnostic milieux for presumed acute appendicitis (AA) during pregnancy, however it is not clear when such imaging modalities are indicated. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of clinical scoring systems with the findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of AA in pregnant patients.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study between 2019 and 2021 was performed in two tertiary level centers. Pregnant patients presenting with suspected AA and non-diagnostic trans-abdominal ultrasound who underwent MRI as part of their evaluation were identified. Patient demographics, parity, gestation, presenting signs, and symptoms were documented. The Alvarado and Appendicitis Inflammatory Response (AIR) score for each patient were calculated and correlated with clinical and MRI findings. Univariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with AA on MRI.

RESULTS

Of the 255 pregnant patients who underwent MRI, 33 (13%) had findings of AA. On univariate analysis, presentation during the second/third trimester, migration of pain, vomiting and RLQ tenderness correlated with MRI findings of AA. Whilst 5/77 (6.5%) of patients with an Alvarado score ≤4 had signs of AA on MRI, a score of ≥5 had a sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of 84.8%, 36.6%, 94.0% and 17.2%. For an AIR score ≥ 5, this was 78.8%, 41.5%, 93.0%, and 16.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst clinical scoring systems may be useful in identifying which pregnant patients require MRI to be performed when AA is suspected, the low sensitivity implies further research is needed to refine the use of this valuable resource.

Scoping review of magnetic resonance motion imaging phantoms

To review and analyze the currently available MRI motion phantoms. Publications were collected from the Toronto Metropolitan University Library, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore. Phantoms were categorized based on the motions they generated: linear/cartesian, cardiac-dilative, lung-dilative, rotational, deformation or rolling. Metrics were extracted from each publication to assess the motion mechanisms, construction methods, as well as phantom validation. A total of 60 publications were reviewed, identifying 48 unique motion phantoms. Translational movement was the most common movement (used in 38% of phantoms), followed by cardiac-dilative (27%) movement and rotational movement (23%). The average degrees of freedom for all phantoms were determined to be 1.42. Motion phantom publications lack quantification of their impact on signal-to-noise ratio through standardized testing. At present, there is a lack of phantoms that are designed for multi-role as many currently have few degrees of freedom.

Effect of Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction during pregnancy on placental volume and perfusion: A subanalysis of the IMPACT BCN randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

The IMPACT BCN trial-a parallel-group randomized clinical trial where 1221 pregnant women at high risk for small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns were randomly allocated at 19- to 23-week gestation into three groups: Mediterranean diet, Mindfulness-based Stress reduction or non-intervention-has demonstrated a positive effect of Mediterranean diet and Stress reduction in the prevention of SGA. However, the mechanism of action of these interventions remains still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Mediterranean diet and Stress reduction on placental volume and perfusion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Participants in the Mediterranean diet group received monthly individual and group educational sessions, and free provision of extra-virgin olive oil and walnuts. Women in the Stress reduction group underwent an 8-week Stress reduction program adapted for pregnancy, consisting of weekly 2.5-h and one full-day sessions. Non-intervention group was based on usual care. Placental volume and perfusion were assessed in a subgroup of randomly selected women (n = 165) using magnetic resonance (MR) at 36-week gestation. Small placental volume was defined as MR estimated volume <10th centile. Perfusion was assessed by intravoxel incoherent motion.

RESULTS

While mean MR placental volume was similar among the study groups, both interventions were associated with a lower prevalence of small placental volume (3.9% Mediterranean diet and 5% stress reduction vs. 17% non-intervention; p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Logistic regression showed that small placental volume was significantly associated with higher risk of SGA in both study groups (OR 7.48 [1.99-28.09] in Mediterranean diet and 20.44 [5.13-81.4] in Stress reduction). Mediation analysis showed that the effect of Mediterranean diet on SGA can be decomposed by a direct effect and an indirect effect (56.6%) mediated by a small placental volume. Similarly, the effect of Stress reduction on SGA is partially mediated (45.3%) by a small placental volume. Results on placental intravoxel incoherent motion perfusion fraction and diffusion coefficient were similar among the study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Structured interventions during pregnancy based on Mediterranean diet or Stress reduction are associated with a lower proportion of small placentas, which is consistent with the previously observed beneficial effects of these interventions on fetal growth.

Cancer during pregnancy: Twenty-two years of experience from a tertiary referral center

INTRODUCTION

Cancer complicating pregnancy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition for both the mother and her child. The aim of the present study was to assess the outcomes for mothers and children after pregnancy complicated by malignancy and to investigate which parameters are important for their 1-year survival.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 84 pregnant women diagnosed with malignant tumors during pregnancy from 2001 to 2022. The pregnancy course and outcome, as well as parameters that could influence the survival and condition of the mother and child were evaluated. Mothers and children were followed up for 1 year after delivery to assess their condition/complications and overall survival.

RESULTS

Most malignancies were gynecological (31%) or hematological (23.8%) and were diagnosed and surgically treated in the second trimester. Most children (69%) showed adequate growth and development throughout pregnancy but were delivered before term (53.6%) to allow mothers to receive therapy. Adjuvant therapy during pregnancy mostly caused a transitory deterioration of the child's condition, while surgery did not significantly impact the pregnancy course. Deliveries, on average, occurred during the 33.01 ± 6.16 gestational week (range: 20-40) and mostly by cesarean section (76.2%). For mothers, the pregnancy survival rate was 95.2% and survival after 1 year was 87.5%. However, 37.5% of women were still ill and required additional therapy 1 year postpartum. The pregnancy survival rate for children was 94%, whereas the 1-year survival rate was 76.2%. Most children had a favorable condition (alive, adequately growing and developing, and without complications) at birth (81%) as well as at the 1-year follow-up (63.7%). Regression analysis identified the following predictors of favorable 1-year maternal condition: applying therapy during pregnancy, no progression of the malignancy during pregnancy, and delivery at a later gestational week. Predictors of favorable 1-year condition of children were lower histopathological grade of malignancy, surgery as therapy for malignancy, obtaining higher birthweight, and delivery by cesarean section.

CONCLUSIONS

If the malignancy is not progressing, pregnancy should be continued as long as possible for the child to obtain adequate birthweight. Both surgery and chemotherapy were safe therapeutic choices, as most pregnancies continued successfully after therapy.

Local SAR management strategies to use two-channel RF shimming for fetal MRI at 3 T

PURPOSE

This study evaluates the imaging performance of two-channel RF-shimming for fetal MRI at 3 T using four different local specific absorption rate (SAR) management strategies.

METHODS

Due to the ambiguity of safe local SAR levels for fetal MRI, local SAR limits for RF shimming were determined based on either each individual's own SAR levels in standard imaging mode (CP mode) or the maximum SAR level observed across seven pregnant body models in CP mode. Local SAR was constrained either indirectly by further constraining the whole-body SAR (wbSAR) or directly by using subject-specific local SAR models. Each strategy was evaluated by the improvement of the transmit field efficiency (average |B1 + |) and nonuniformity (|B1 + | variation) inside the fetus compared with CP mode for the same wbSAR.

RESULTS

Constraining wbSAR when using RF shimming decreases B1 + efficiency inside the fetus compared with CP mode (by 12%-30% on average), making it inefficient for SAR management. Using subject-specific models with SAR limits based on each individual's own CP mode SAR value, B1 + efficiency and nonuniformity are improved on average by 6% and 13% across seven pregnant models. In contrast, using SAR limits based on maximum CP mode SAR values across seven models, B1 + efficiency and nonuniformity are improved by 13% and 25%, compared with the best achievable improvement without SAR constraints: 15% and 26%.

CONCLUSION

Two-channel RF-shimming can safely and significantly improve the transmit field inside the fetus when subject-specific models are used with local SAR limits based on maximum CP mode SAR levels in the pregnant population.

Survey of maternal anxiety and perceptions towards foetal MRI and pre-scan education

INTRODUCTION

Foetal MRI scans can induce feelings of fear, concern and anxiety in pregnant patients. The aim of this research was to determine if providing patients with an information leaflet reduced maternal anxiety regarding foetal MRI.

METHODS

A prospective, three-arm comparative pilot study was performed in the MRI department of a quaternary public hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Three groups of 30 participants (total 90 participants) received differing levels of information about foetal MRI: Group A - no foetal-MRI specific information (current practice at the site); Group B - a basic information leaflet; Group C - a comprehensive information leaflet. All participants completed a survey that explored their pre-scan anxiety immediately after their MRI scan.

RESULTS

Over 50% of participants in each group felt anxious before the MRI. Participants expressed anxiety towards the general process of the MRI, the outcome or results of the scan, and the safety of the modality. The basic and comprehensive leaflets were both efficacious in reducing anxiety for the majority of participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst not all patients express anxiety regarding MRI scans, emotional distress surrounding the entire process is prevalent. Providing patients with comprehensive information about what the MRI scan entails (including the scan environment and duration, positioning, breath-holding requirements, and foetal safety) reduces anxiety for most patients. These findings can be used to determine ways in which reduction of anxiety improves the patient experience.

A Young Pregnant Person With Old Myocardial Infarction

This case report presents the electrocardiogram findings of a pregnant patient in their 30s with a family history of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Fetal neuroimaging applications for diagnosis and counseling of brain anomalies: Current practice and future diagnostic strategies

Advances in fetal brain neuroimaging, especially fetal neurosonography and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), allow safe and accurate anatomical assessments of fetal brain structures that serve as a foundation for prenatal diagnosis and counseling regarding fetal brain anomalies. Fetal neurosonography strategically assesses fetal brain anomalies suspected by screening ultrasound. Fetal brain MRI has unique technological features that overcome the anatomical limits of smaller fetal brain size and the unpredictable variable of intrauterine motion artifact. Recent studies of fetal brain MRI provide evidence of improved diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, beginning with prenatal diagnosis. Despite technological advances over the last several decades, the combined use of different qualitative structural biomarkers has limitations in providing an accurate prognosis. Quantitative analyses of fetal brain MRIs offer measurable imaging biomarkers that will more accurately associate with clinical outcomes. First-trimester ultrasound opens new opportunities for risk assessment and fetal brain anomaly diagnosis at the earliest time in pregnancy. This review includes a case vignette to illustrate how fetal brain MRI results interpreted by the fetal neurologist can improve diagnostic perspectives. The strength and limitations of conventional ultrasound and fetal brain MRI will be compared with recent research advances in quantitative methods to better correlate fetal neuroimaging biomarkers of neuropathology to predict functional childhood deficits. Discussion of these fetal sonogram and brain MRI advances will highlight the need for further interdisciplinary collaboration using complementary skills to continue improving clinical decision-making following precision medicine principles.

An unusual case of a giant fetal facial tumour and review of the literature

We present the case of a pregnant 32-year-old woman who presented with a giant fetal facial tumour at 22 weeks. The mass, initially 4 × 3.5 × 3 cm in size, was largely cystic with a small solid component. It subsequently increased to 9 × 9 × 10 cm. Significant compression effects on the fetal orbit, temple and infratemporal fossa, with potential compression of the optic nerve, were noted on ultrasound and MRI. The cyst required drainage twice in the pregnancy: firstly to reduce the compression effects and secondly to facilitate caesarean delivery. Postnatally, the baby had significant compression and displacement of the craniofacial skeleton from the mass effect. Postnatal histology revealed a diagnosis of a teratoma. This case highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding the diagnosis and management of a giant fetal facial tumour.

Safety of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Pregnancy

Magnetic resonance imaging is being increasingly used to diagnose and follow up a variety of medical conditions in pregnancy, both for maternal and fetal indications. However, limited data regarding its safe use in pregnancy may be a source of anxiety and avoidance for both patients and their healthcare providers. In this review, we critically discuss the main safety concerns of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in pregnancy including energy deposition, acoustic noise, and use of contrast agents, supported by data from animal and human studies. Use of maternal sedatives and concerns related to occupational exposure in pregnant personnel are also addressed. Exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agents and sedation for MRI during pregnancy should be avoided whenever feasible.

Patient safety in magnetic resonance imaging

Image acquisition involves the use of static magnetic fields, field gradients and radiofrequency waves. These elements make the MRI a different modality. More and more centers work with 3.0 T equipment that present higher risks for the patient, compared to those of 1.5 T. Therefore, there is a need for updating for radiology staff that allows them to understand the risks and reduce them, since serious and even fatal incidents can occur. The objective of this work is to present a review and update of the risks to which patients are subjected during the performance of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study.

Imaging in metastatic breast cancer, CT, PET/CT, MRI, WB-DWI, CCA: review and new perspectives

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and remains the second leading cause of death in Western countries. It represents a heterogeneous group of diseases with diverse tumoral behaviour, treatment responsiveness and prognosis. While major progress in diagnosis and treatment has resulted in a decline in breast cancer-related mortality, some patients will relapse and prognosis in this cohort of patients remains poor. Treatment is determined according to tumor subtype; primarily hormone receptor status and HER2 expression. Menopausal status and site of disease relapse are also important considerations in treatment protocols.

MAIN BODY

Staging and repeated evaluation of patients with metastatic breast cancer are central to the accurate assessment of disease extent at diagnosis and during treatment; guiding ongoing clinical management. Advances have been made in the diagnostic and therapeutic fields, particularly with new targeted therapies. In parallel, oncological imaging has evolved exponentially with the development of functional and anatomical imaging techniques. Consistent, reproducible and validated methods of assessing response to therapy is critical in effectively managing patients with metastatic breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Major progress has been made in oncological imaging over the last few decades. Accurate disease assessment at diagnosis and during treatment is important in the management of metastatic breast cancer. CT (and BS if appropriate) is generally widely available, relatively cheap and sufficient in many cases. However, several additional imaging modalities are emerging and can be used as adjuncts, particularly in pregnancy or other diagnostically challenging cases. Nevertheless, no single imaging technique is without limitation. The authors have evaluated the vast array of imaging techniques - individual, combined parametric and multimodal - that are available or that are emerging in the management of metastatic breast cancer. This includes WB DW-MRI, CCA, novel PET breast cancer-epitope specific radiotracers and radiogenomics.

Concordance between US and MRI Two-Dimensional Measurement and Volumetric Segmentation in Fetal Ventriculomegaly

We provide a study comparison between two-dimensional measurement and volumetric (3D) segmentation of the lateral ventricles and brain structures in fetuses with isolated and non-isolated ventriculomegaly with 3D virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) ultrasonography vs. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analyzed with 3D-Slicer software. In this cross-sectional study, 40 fetuses between 20 and 38 gestational weeks with various degrees of ventriculomegaly were included. A total of 71 ventricles were measured with ultrasound (US) and with MRI. A total of 64 sonographic ventricular volumes, 80 ventricular and 40 fetal brain MR volumes were segmented and analyzed using both imaging modalities by three observers. Sizes and volumes of the ventricles and brain parenchyma were independently analyzed by two radiologists, and interobserver correlation of the results with 3D fetal ultrasound data was performed. The semiautomated rotational multiplanar 3D VOCAL technique was performed for ultrasound volumetric measurements. Results were compared to manually extracted ventricular and total brain volumes in 3D-Slicer. Segmentation of fetal brain structures (cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, brainstem, ventricles) performed independently by two radiologists showed high interobserver agreement. An excellent agreement between VOCAL and MRI volumetric and two-dimensional measurements was established, taking into account the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and a Bland-Altman plot was established. US and MRI are valuable tools for performing fetal brain and ventricular volumetry for clinical prognosis and patient counseling. Our datasets could provide the backbone for further construction of quantitative normative trajectories of fetal intracranial structures and support earlier detection of abnormal brain development and ventriculomegaly, its timing and progression during gestation.

The growth and shape of the eyeball and crystalline lens in utero documented by fetal MR imaging

Purpose

To study the growth model, shape, and developmental relationship of lens and eyeball, we used two-dimensional Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging to investigate gestationally age-related changes in the selected ocular parameters in vivo.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the MR images from 126 fetuses ranging from 21 to 39 weeks' gestation. Ocular parameters on MR imaging of transverse plane were measured including lens diameter (LD), anteroposterior lens diameter (APLD), lens surface area (LS), globe diameter (GD), anteroposterior globe diameter (APGD), globe surface area (GS). The growth model of each biometric against gestational age (GA), aspect ratio of lens and globe (LD/APLD and GD/APGD), and growing relationship between the ratio of lens and globe surface area (LS/GS) were studied by statistical analysis.

Results

The growth model of most biometry for gestational age is logarithmic, except for the diameter of the ocular globe (GD and APGD) showing a quadratic growth pattern. Our study showed that the lens was consistently larger in the transverse than the anteroposterior diameters during 21-39 weeks(P < 0.001). Besides, the ratio of surface area (LS/GS) was not significantly changing with GA(P = 0.4908), while the increase of LS was significantly accorded with that of GS(P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The lens shape throughout fetal life may take part in the process, shape changing from vertical ellipsoid, spherical to transversal ellipsoid, based on the logarithmically increased ratio of lens transverse and anteroposterior diameters. In the meanwhile, the aspect ratio of eyeball in late fetal life may imply a gradually spherical shape during gestation. Nomogram data from this study may provide appropriate information about morphological changes in the fetal lens and the synchronous relationship between lens and eyeball.

Approach of Acromegaly during Pregnancy

Acromegaly-related sub/infertility, tidily related to suboptimal disease control (1/2 of cases), correlates with hyperprolactinemia (1/3 of patients), hypogonadotropic hypogonadism—mostly affecting the pituitary axis in hypopituitarism (10−80%), and negative effects of glucose profile (GP) anomalies (10−70%); thus, pregnancy is an exceptional event. Placental GH (Growth Hormone) increases from weeks 5−15 with a peak at week 37, stimulating liver IGF1 and inhibiting pituitary GH secreted by normal hypophysis, not by somatotropinoma. However, estrogens induce a GH resistance status, protecting the fetus form GH excess; thus a full-term, healthy pregnancy may be possible. This is a narrative review of acromegaly that approaches cardio-metabolic features (CMFs), somatotropinoma expansion (STE), management adjustment (MNA) and maternal-fetal outcomes (MFOs) during pregnancy. Based on our method (original, in extenso, English—published articles on PubMed, between January 2012 and September 2022), we identified 24 original papers—13 studies (3 to 141 acromegalic pregnancies per study), and 11 single cases reports (a total of 344 pregnancies and an additional prior unpublished report). With respect to maternal acromegaly, pregnancies are spontaneous or due to therapy for infertility (clomiphene, gonadotropins or GnRH) and, lately, assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs); there are no consistent data on pregnancies with paternal acromegaly. CMFs are the most important complications (7.7−50%), especially concerning worsening of HBP (including pre/eclampsia) and GP anomalies, including gestational diabetes mellitus (DM); the best predictor is the level of disease control at conception (IGF1), and, probably, family history of 2DM, and body mass index. STE occurs rarely (a rate of 0 to 9%); some of it symptoms are headache and visual field anomalies; it is treated with somatostatin analogues (SSAs) or alternatively dopamine agonists (DAs); lately, second trimester selective hypophysectomy has been used less, since pharmaco-therapy (PT) has proven safe. MNA: PT that, theoretically, needs to be stopped before conception—continued if there was STE or an inoperable tumor (no clear period of exposure, preferably, only first trimester). Most data are on octreotide > lanreotide, followed by DAs and pegvisomant, and there are none on pasireotide. Further follow-up is required: a prompt postpartum re-assessment of the mother’s disease; we only have a few data confirming the safety of SSAs during lactation and long-term normal growth and developmental of the newborn (a maximum of 15 years). MFO seem similar between PT + ve and PT − ve, regardless of PT duration; the additional risk is actually due to CMF. One study showed a 2-year median between hypophysectomy and pregnancy. Conclusion: Close surveillance of disease burden is required, particularly, concerning CMF; a personalized approach is useful; the level of statistical evidence is expected to expand due to recent progress in MNA and ART.

Feasibility of MRI Quantification of Myelin Water Fraction in the Fetal Guinea Pig Brain

BACKGROUND

Fetal myelination assessment is important for understanding neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. Myelin water imaging (MWI) quantifies myelin water fraction (MWF), a validated marker for myelin content, and has been used to assess brain myelin in children and neonates.

PURPOSE

To demonstrate that MWI can quantify MWF in fetal guinea pigs (GPs).

STUDY TYPE

Animal model.

ANIMAL MODEL

Nine pregnant, Dunkin-Hartley GPs with 31 fetuses (mean ± standard deviation = 60 ± 1.5 days gestation).

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

3D spoiled gradient echo and balanced steady-state free precession sequences at 3.0 T.

ASSESSMENT

MWF maps were reconstructed for maternal and fetal GP brains using the multicomponent driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T₁ and T₂ (mcDESPOT) approach. Myelin basic protein (MBP) stain provided histological validation of the MWF. Regions of interest were placed in the maternal corpus callosum (CC), maternal fornix (FOR), fetal CC, and fetal FOR in MWF maps and MBP stains.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Linear regression between MWF and MBP stain intensity (SI) of all four regions (coefficient of determination, R² ). A paired t-test compared the MWF of maternal and mean fetal CC, MBP SI of maternal and mean fetal CC, MWF of maternal and mean fetal FOR, MBP SI of maternal and mean fetal FOR. A paired t-test with a linear mixed model compared the MWF of fetal CC and fetal FOR, and MBP SI of fetal CC and fetal FOR. A  P value < 0.0083 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The mean MWF of the analyzed regions are as follows (mean ± standard deviation): 0.338 + 0.016 (maternal CC), 0.340 ± 0.017 (maternal FOR), 0.214 ± 0.016 (fetal CC), and 0.305 ± 0.025 (fetal FOR). MWF correlated with MBP SI in all regions (R²  = 0.81). Significant differences were found between MWF and MBP SI of maternal and fetal CC, and MWF and MBP SI of fetal CC and fetal FOR.

DATA CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the feasibility of MWI in assessing fetal brain myelin content.

EVIDENCE LEVEL

2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1.

Effective Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus by Resonance Medicine

The metabolic disorder known as diabetes mellitus (DM) has several different causes, distinguished by recurring hyperglycemia due to inadequate insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. T-lymphocytes target such cells for destruction, which include beta cells. Transplants of the pancreas, islets of Langerhans, and individual beta cells are all effective treatments for DM. Additionally, treating DM using stem cells is popular currently. The basis of stem cell therapy for DM is the replacement of beta cells, or dead pancreatic cells, with stem cells. After attaching to the tissues of the pancreas, the stem cells differentiate into active cells. An X-ray scanner is used to place a catheter into the pancreatic artery in DM, and the process lasts 90 minutes. The use of stem cells to replace dead pancreatic beta cells forms the cornerstone of stem cell treatment for DM. Transplants of the pancreas, islets of Langerhans, and individual beta cells are all effective treatments for insulin-dependent DM. In contrast to prior studies, where we only used low potencies of nosodes and organopreparations, our research used both high and low potencies of these substances. Choosing the strength of the nosode stomach cancer in the computer-connected device selector so that it will resonate with the nosode that is tested in the patient's device is the doctor's responsibility when using the bioresonance therapy method. The initial nosode, which is in the computer programme of the device for bioresonance therapy, is no longer tested when the stomach cancer nosode is tested in a patient along with the chosen potency of this nosode. The initial nosode in the bioresonance therapy device itself is still being studied in case the chosen nosode's potency is inadequate (the frequency of oscillations of the nosode is lower than the frequency of oscillations of the tumour).

Kidney morphology in pregnancy using T2-weighted MRI

AIM

To report the morphology of maternal kidneys captured on fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including kidney length, volume, renal pelvis diameter, and corticomedullary differentiation in pregnancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of maternal kidney morphology captured incidentally on fetal MRI. Women without chronic kidney disease, with a complete view of both kidneys and a singleton pregnancy were included. Kidney length, maximal renal pelvis diameter, kidney volume, and corticomedullary differentiation ratio were measured independently in duplicate. Associations with maternal and pregnancy variables were explored using linear regression.

RESULTS

MRI images from 42 women were performed at 22-32 weeks' gestation. Serum creatinine concentrations are not checked routinely during pregnancy and were available for 15 (36%) women, with a median creatinine of 57 μmol/l (IQR: 50-63 μmol/l). Mean interpolar lengths were 10.9 and 10.4 cm for the left and right kidneys and varied with height. Mean maximal renal pelvis diameters were 9 mm and 12 mm, with upper reference intervals of 17 and 25 mm for the left and right kidneys, respectively. Renal volume in pregnancy was within the non-pregnant reference interval and varied with height and gestation.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal kidney length and volume in pregnancy are within the normal reference intervals for non-pregnant women. Renal pelvis diameter in pregnancy measured using MRI is substantially higher than described previously by ultrasound, with implications for routine reporting.

Antenatal diagnosis of chorioamnionitis: A review of the potential role of fetal and placental imaging

Chorioamnionitis is present in up to 70% of spontaneous preterm births. It is defined as an acute inflammation of the chorion, with or without involvement of the amnion, and is evidence of a maternal immunological response to infection. A fetal inflammatory response can coexist and is diagnosed on placental histopathology postnatally. Fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is associated with poorer fetal and neonatal outcomes. The only antenatal diagnostic test is amniocentesis which carries risks of miscarriage or preterm birth. Imaging of the fetal immune system, in particular the thymus and the spleen, and the placenta may give valuable information antenatally regarding the diagnosis of fetal inflammatory response. While ultrasound is largely limited to structural information, MRI can complement this with functional information that may provide insight into the metabolic activities of the fetal immune system and placenta. This review discusses fetal and placental imaging in pregnancies complicated by chorioamnionitis and their potential future use in achieving non-invasive antenatal diagnosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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.

Radiotherapy and pregnancy

We present the updated recommendations of the French society for radiation oncology on radiotherapy and pregnancy. The occurrence of cancer during pregnancy is a rare event (approximately 1 in 1000 pregnancies). The risks for the embryo or the foetus depend on the gestational age at the time of irradiation. The main risks are malformations with microcephaly and mental retardation. There is also a risk of radiation-induced cancer in the unborn child. In the case of only supradiaphragmatic irradiation, radiotherapy can be performed most often in pregnant women without risk to the foetus. On the other hand, in the case of an indication for subdiaphragmatic irradiation, therapeutic termination of the pregnancy should be proposed. In all cases, when radiotherapy is chosen, a phantom estimation of the dose delivered to the foetus, confirmed by in vivo measurement, is recommended. Conformational radiotherapy is the preferred technique because of the lower dose delivered to the foetus (except in tumour locations where other techniques such as IMRT are recommended).

Addressing Perinatal Mental Health Risk within a Fetal Care Center

Diagnosis of a fetal anomaly in pregnancy increases the risk for perinatal mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression, and traumatic stress among expectant parents. Common emotional challenges include uncertainty about the diagnosis/prognosis, anticipated neonatal course, fears of fetal or neonatal demise, loss of a typical, uncomplicated pregnancy and postpartum course, and disruption of family roles due to medical care-related activities and restrictions. Psychologists in multidisciplinary fetal care centers are uniquely positioned to assess mental health risks and address the needs of expectant parents. Psychologists bring additional expertise in screening and assessment, clinical interventions to promote coping and symptom reduction while preparing for birth and a complicated neonatal course, consultation and effective communication, and programmatic development. This review paper provides an overview of the challenges and behavioral health risks for expectant parents carrying a fetus with a birth defect and the unique role psychologists play to support patients and families within fetal care settings.

Safety and imaging performance of two-channel RF shimming for fetal MRI at 3T

PURPOSE

This study investigates whether two-channel radiofrequency (RF) shimming can improve imaging without increasing specific absorption rate (SAR) for fetal MRI at 3T.

METHODS

Transmit field ( B 1 + ) average and variation in the fetus was simulated in seven numerical pregnant body models. Safety was quantified by maternal and fetal peak local SAR and fetal average SAR. The shim parameter space was divided into improved B 1 + (magnitude and homogeneity) and improved SAR regions, and an overlap where RF shimming improved both classes of metrics compared with birdcage mode was assessed. Additionally, the effect of fetal position, tissue detail, and dielectric properties on transmit field and SAR was studied.

RESULTS

A region of subject-specific RF shim parameter space improving both B 1 + and SAR metrics was found for five of the seven models. Optimizing only B 1 + metrics improved B 1 + efficiency across models by 15% on average and 28% for the best-case model. B 1 + variation improved by 26% on average and 49% for the best case. However, for these shim settings, fetal SAR increased by up to 106%. The overlap region, where both B 1 + and SAR metrics improve, showed an average B 1 + efficiency improvement of 6% on average across models and 19% for the best-case model. B 1 + variation improved by 13% on average and 40% for the best case. RFS could also decrease maternal/fetal SAR by up to 49%/58%.

CONCLUSION

RF shimming can improve imaging compared with birdcage mode without increasing fetal and maternal SAR when a patient-specific SAR model is incorporated into the shimming procedure.

2021 MAGNIMS-CMSC-NAIMS consensus recommendations on the use of MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis

The 2015 Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis and 2016 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centres guidelines on the use of MRI in diagnosis and monitoring of multiple sclerosis made an important step towards appropriate use of MRI in routine clinical practice. Since their promulgation, there have been substantial relevant advances in knowledge, including the 2017 revisions of the McDonald diagnostic criteria, renewed safety concerns regarding intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agents, and the value of spinal cord MRI for diagnostic, prognostic, and monitoring purposes. These developments suggest a changing role of MRI for the management of patients with multiple sclerosis. This 2021 revision of the previous guidelines on MRI use for patients with multiple sclerosis merges recommendations from the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis study group, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centres, and North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis Cooperative, and translates research findings into clinical practice to improve the use of MRI for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of individuals with multiple sclerosis. We recommend changes in MRI acquisition protocols, such as emphasising the value of three dimensional-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery as the core brain pulse sequence to improve diagnostic accuracy and ability to identify new lesions to monitor treatment effectiveness, and we provide recommendations for the judicious use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for specific clinical purposes. Additionally, we extend the recommendations to the use of MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis in childhood, during pregnancy, and in the post-partum period. Finally, we discuss promising MRI approaches that might deserve introduction into clinical practice in the near future.

Canadian Association of Radiologists Recommendations for the Safe Use of MRI During Pregnancy

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during pregnancy is associated with concerns among patients and health professionals with regards to fetal safety. In this work, the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Working Group on MRI in Pregnancy presents recommendations for the use of MRI in pregnancy, derived from literature review as well as expert panel opinions and discussions. The working group, which consists of academic subspecialty radiologists and obstetrician-gynaecologists, aimed to provide updated, evidence-based recommendations addressing safety domains related to energy deposition, acoustic noise, and gadolinium-based contrast agent use based on magnetic field strength (1.5T and 3T) and trimester scanned, in addition to the effects of sedative use and occupational exposure.

A Sparse Volume Reconstruction Method for Fetal Brain MRI Using Adaptive Kernel Regression

Slice-to-volume reconstruction (SVR) method can deal well with motion artifacts and provide high-quality 3D image data for fetal brain MRI. However, the problem of sparse sampling is not well addressed in the SVR method. In this paper, we mainly focus on the sparse volume reconstruction of fetal brain MRI from multiple stacks corrupted with motion artifacts. Based on the SVR framework, our approach includes the slice-to-volume 2D/3D registration, the point spread function- (PSF-) based volume update, and the adaptive kernel regression-based volume update. The adaptive kernel regression can deal well with the sparse sampling data and enhance the detailed preservation by capturing the local structure through covariance matrix. Experimental results performed on clinical data show that kernel regression results in statistical improvement of image quality for sparse sampling data with the parameter setting of the structure sensitivity 0.4, the steering kernel size of 7 × 7 × 7 and steering smoothing bandwidth of 0.5. The computational performance of the proposed GPU-based method can be over 90 times faster than that on CPU.

Gentle Touch: Noninvasive Approaches to Improve Patient Comfort and Cooperation for Pediatric Imaging

Pediatric imaging presents unique challenges related to patient anxiety, cooperation, and safety. Techniques to reduce anxiety and patient motion in adults must often be augmented in pediatrics, because it is always mentioned in the field of pediatrics, children are not miniature adults. This article will review methods that can be considered to improve patient experience and cooperation in imaging studies. Such techniques can range from modifications to the scanner suite, different ways of preparing and interacting with children, collaborating with parents for improved patient care, and technical advances such as accelerated acquisition and motion correction to reduce artifact. Special considerations for specific populations including transgender patients, neonates, and pregnant women undergoing fetal imaging will be described. The unique risks of sedation in children will also be briefly reviewed.

Clinical presentation and diagnosis of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a heterogeneous group of pregnancy-related disorders characterized by abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue. It encompasses the premalignant partial and complete hydatidiform mole but also the malignant invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental-site trophoblastic tumor, and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor. The clinical presentation changed to earlier detection after the introduction of first trimester ultrasounds. Patients are often asymptomatic, but vaginal bleeding continues to be the most common presenting symptom. Other symptoms can develop in the case of metastatic disease. Ultrasound, serum human chorionic gonadotrophin, and sometimes additional imaging such as CT, MRI, or PET can confirm the diagnosis and stage of disease. Familiarity with the pathogenesis, classification, imaging features, and treatment of GTD facilitates diagnosis and appropriate management.

The application of in utero magnetic resonance imaging in the study of the metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of the developmental origins of health and disease

Observing fetal development in utero is vital to further the understanding of later-life diseases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a tool for obtaining a wealth of information about fetal growth, development, and programming not previously available using other methods. This review provides an overview of MRI techniques used to investigate the metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis. These methods add to the understanding of the developing fetus by examining fetal growth and organ development, adipose tissue and body composition, fetal oximetry, placental microstructure, diffusion, perfusion, flow, and metabolism. MRI assessment of fetal growth, organ development, metabolism, and the amount of fetal adipose tissue could give early indicators of abnormal fetal development. Noninvasive fetal oximetry can accurately measure placental and fetal oxygenation, which improves current knowledge on placental function. Additionally, measuring deficiencies in the placenta’s transport of nutrients and oxygen is critical for optimizing treatment. Overall, the detailed structural and functional information provided by MRI is valuable in guiding future investigations of DOHaD.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Assessing Abdominal Conditions in Pregnancy

Background and objectives: Native ultrasound is the most common imaging modality in obstetrics. The use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) during pregnancy has not been officially approved by leading societies for obstetrics and ultrasound. The present study aims to monitor the safety and diagnostic performance of CEUS for assessing abdominal issues in five pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Five pregnant patients who underwent a total of 11 CEUS examinations between June 2020 and October 2020 were included (mean age: 34 years; mean time of pregnancy: 21 weeks). All CEUS scans were interpreted by one experienced consultant radiologist (EFSUMB Level 3). Results: Upon contrast application, no maternal nor fetal adverse effects were observed. Moreover, no fetal contrast enhancement was observed in any patient. CEUS helped to diagnose renal angiomyolipoma, pyelonephritis, necrotic uterine fibroid, gallbladder polyp, and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. Conclusions: In our study, off-label use of CEUS showed an excellent safety profile allowing the avoidance of ionizing radiation exposure as well as contrast agents in case of CT or use of gadolinium-based contrast agents in case of MRI. CEUS is a promising diagnostic instrument for facilitating clinical decision-making and improving the management of pregnant women.

How to read a fetal magnetic resonance image 101

Accurate antenatal diagnosis is essential for planning appropriate pregnancy management and improving perinatal outcomes. The provision of information vital for prognostication is a crucial component of prenatal imaging, and this can be enhanced by the use of fetal MRI. Image acquisition, interpretation and reporting of a fetal MR study can be daunting to the individual who has encountered few or none of these examinations. This article provides the radiology trainee with a general approach to interpreting a fetal MRI. The authors review the added value of prenatal MRI in the overall assessment of fetal wellbeing, discuss MRI protocols and techniques, and review the normal appearance of maternal and fetal anatomy. The paper concludes with a sample template for structured reporting, to serve as a checklist and guideline for reporting radiologists.

Self-Supervised Ultrasound to MRI Fetal Brain Image Synthesis

Fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers exquisite images of the developing brain but is not suitable for second-trimester anomaly screening, for which ultrasound (US) is employed. Although expert sonographers are adept at reading US images, MR images which closely resemble anatomical images are much easier for non-experts to interpret. Thus in this article we propose to generate MR-like images directly from clinical US images. In medical image analysis such a capability is potentially useful as well, for instance for automatic US-MRI registration and fusion. The proposed model is end-to-end trainable and self-supervised without any external annotations. Specifically, based on an assumption that the US and MRI data share a similar anatomical latent space, we first utilise a network to extract the shared latent features, which are then used for MRI synthesis. Since paired data is unavailable for our study (and rare in practice), pixel-level constraints are infeasible to apply. We instead propose to enforce the distributions to be statistically indistinguishable, by adversarial learning in both the image domain and feature space. To regularise the anatomical structures between US and MRI during synthesis, we further propose an adversarial structural constraint. A new cross-modal attention technique is proposed to utilise non-local spatial information, by encouraging multi-modal knowledge fusion and propagation. We extend the approach to consider the case where 3D auxiliary information (e.g., 3D neighbours and a 3D location index) from volumetric data is also available, and show that this improves image synthesis. The proposed approach is evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively with comparison to real fetal MR images and other approaches to synthesis, demonstrating its feasibility of synthesising realistic MR images.

Magnetic resonance imaging for early pregnancy diagnosis in the laboratory rat

Pregnancy diagnosis and embryo counting are important end points in reproductive, developmental biology and toxicology studies. The purpose of the present study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for early pregnancy diagnosis and embryo counting in the laboratory rat. Female Wistar rats were subjected to whole-body MRI scanning using a 1.5T MRI scanner, employing a isotropic T2-weighted 3D short-tau inversion recovery sequence from day 8 to day 12 post coitum (pc) or without prior mating, under general anaesthesia for pregnancy diagnosis and embryo counting. MRI examination was followed by laparotomy and visual inspection of the uterus to verify MRI findings. By day 8 pc, uterine bulges, characteristic of pregnancy, were depicted as oval-shaped structures of high intensity signal. By day 10 pc, embryonic vesicles were detected at the medial side of the uterine bulges. Pregnancy was diagnosed with 0% false-negative diagnosis and 100% accuracy by day 11 pc, while embryos were counted with 100% accuracy by day 12 pc. In conclusion, MRI proved to be a feasible and reliable non-invasive imaging method of early pregnancy diagnosis and embryo counting in the laboratory rat.

Severe Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage after Warning Headache during Pregnancy: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rare but important cause of maternal death during pregnancy.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 34-year-old primigravida (31 weeks of pregnancy) with acute headache but no neurological deficits or neck stiffness was prescribed medication and returned home. Four weeks later she presented with severe headache and consciousness disturbance. She was admitted to our hospital, where she fell into a deep coma. Brain CT and three-dimensional CT angiography showed subarachnoid hemorrhage and a 5-mm right internal carotid-posterior communicating artery aneurysm. Fetal heart rate was 60 beats per minute. Emergent cesarean section and surgical clipping were performed. Intraoperative examination revealed that the aneurysm originated at the right posterior communicating artery. There were no postoperative neurological focal deficits. On postoperative day 13 she developed delayed cerebral ischemia of the right temporo-parieto-occipital lobe. She was discharged home 36 days after surgery with left hemianopsia. The infant was free of complications and was discharged at age 17 days.

CONCLUSIONS

A pregnant woman with severe headache should undergo brain CT or magnetic resonance imaging to rule out subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Fetal cardiac MRI: a single center experience over 14-years on the potential utility as an adjunct to fetal technically inadequate echocardiography

Unlike ultrasound (US) imaging, foetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not significantly limited by maternal obesity, oligohydramnios, uterine myoma, twins, and foetal lie, which impair US visualization of the foetus. The present study aimed to introduce our foetal cardiac MRI scanning technology and over 14-years of experience on the potential utility of foetal cardiac MRI examination as an adjunct to foetal technically inadequate echocardiography (Echo). This retrospective review included 1,573 pregnant women [1,619 foetuses (46 twins)] referred for a foetal cardiac MRI because of technically limited Echo. Foetal cardiac MRI was performed using two 1.5 T units. Among the 1,619 foetuses referred for cardiac MRI, 1,379 (85.2%) cases were followed up using postnatal imaging and/or surgery, 240 (14.8%), including three twins, had no follow-up confirmation because of pregnancy termination without autopsy or loss to follow-up. The results of the present study indicated that foetal cardiac MRI examinations can be a useful adjunct to foetal echocardiography when the technical limitations of echocardiography make it inadequate for diagnosis.

Endometriosis in pregnancy

Endometriosis constitutes the presence of ectopic endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine endometrium, which is hormonally responsive and responds to pregnancy hormones as well. Decidualization is a physiologic process, where the normal endometrium readies itself for optimal accommodation of a pregnancy. A similar hormonal response can be seen with ectopic endometrium as well. As such, ovarian endometriomas and deep endometriosis implants can undergo decidualization. Overall, the progestational state of pregnancy favors an improvement in endometriosis, however, decidualization can lead to findings that can lead to increased size of endometriomas and deep infiltrative endometriosis implants, changes in imaging appearance and even complications, such as spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy. Awareness of this process can help prevent misdiagnosis of decidualized endometriomas as ovarian malignancy and recognize common imaging manifestations of hormonal effects of pregnancy on endometriosis.

Incidence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis after administration of gadoteric acid in patients on renal replacement treatment

PURPOSE

Nephrogenic system fibrosis (NSF) is a rare complication detected in patients with renal insufficiency exposed to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of NSF in a cohort of patients on renal replacement treatment who underwent GBCA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHOD

We retrospectively reviewed all the charts of kidney transplant (KT) recipients, patients on hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) who received a uniform protocol for contrast material enhanced-MRI with gadoteric acid at our center from January 2004 to December 2017.

RESULTS

Three-hundred forty-four patients (44.1% on HD, 11.3% on PD and 44.4% KT recipients) underwent 551 gadoteric acid-enhanced MRI. The median age of the patients was 58 years (IQR, 45-70 years) and 65.1% were men. Sixty-three patients (18.3%) had skin punch biopsy after integumentary assessment performed by a dermatologist. No cases of NSF were detected after a median follow-up of 4.5 years (IQR, 1.9-8.2 years). During this period of observation, 116 (33.7%) patients died and 11 (3.1%) were lost at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

None of the patients exposed to gadoteric acid developed NSF. Our results, in line with more recent studies, suggest that the use of gadoteric acid, a macrocyclic GBCA, appears safe even in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving dialysis.

Noninvasive high-resolution electromyometrial imaging of uterine contractions in a translational sheep model

In current clinical practice, uterine contractions are monitored via a tocodynamometer or an intrauterine pressure catheter, both of which provide crude information about contractions. Although electrohysterography/electromyography can measure uterine electrical activity, this method lacks spatial specificity and thus cannot accurately measure the exact location of electrical initiation and location-specific propagation patterns of uterine contractions. To comprehensively evaluate three-dimensional uterine electrical activation patterns, we describe here the development of electromyometrial imaging (EMMI) to display the three-dimensional uterine contractions at high spatial and temporal resolution. EMMI combines detailed body surface electrical recording with body-uterus geometry derived from magnetic resonance images. We used a sheep model to show that EMMI can reconstruct uterine electrical activation patterns from electrodes placed on the abdomen. These patterns closely match those measured with electrodes placed directly on the uterine surface. In addition, modeling experiments showed that EMMI reconstructions are minimally affected by noise and geometrical deformation. Last, we show that EMMI can be used to noninvasively measure uterine contractions in sheep in the same setup as would be used in humans. Our results indicate that EMMI can noninvasively, safely, accurately, robustly, and feasibly image three-dimensional uterine electrical activation during contractions in sheep and suggest that similar results might be obtained in clinical setting.

Functional human brain connectivity during labor and its alteration under epidural analgesia

This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the neural networks of pain during labor and its relief. It was hypothesized that epidural analgesia would affect the neural activities and the underlying network connectivity. Analysis using dynamic causal modelling and functional connectivity was performed to investigate the spatial activity and network connection of labor pain with and without epidural analgesia. This Institutional Review Board approved study acquired Magnetic Resonance Imaging from 15 healthy women of spontaneous normal delivery (with/without epidural analgesia = 7/8, aged 29.6 ± 2.3 and 29.3 ± 4.8 years old respectively) using a 1.5 Tesla scanner. Numerical rating score of pain was evaluated by a research nurse in the beginning of the first stage of labor and approximately 30 min after imaging examination. Six regions of interested from the activated clusters and literature were selected for dynamic causal modelling, which included primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, middle frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, insula and lentiform. Functional connectivity was calculated from selected sensory and affective regions. All analyses were performed by using software of statistical parametric mapping version 8 and CONN functional connectivity toolbox. The result showed that the experience of labor pain can lead to activations within a distributed brain network. The pain relief from epidural analgesia can be accompanied with altered functional connectivity, which was most evident in the cingulo-frontal system. The present study, therefore, provides an overview of a pain-related neural network that occur during labor and upon epidural analgesia.

Accuracy of electromyometrial imaging of uterine contractions in clinical environment

Clinically, uterine contractions are monitored with tocodynamometers or intrauterine pressure catheters. In the research setting, electromyography (EMG), which detects electrical activity of the uterus from a few electrodes on the abdomen, is feasible, can provide more accurate data than these other methods, and may be useful for predicting preterm birth. However, EMG lacks sufficient spatial resolution and coverage to reveal where uterine contractions originate, how they propagate, and whether preterm contractions differ between women who do and do not progress to preterm delivery. To address those limitations, electromyometrial imaging (EMMI) was recently developed and validated to non-invasively assess three-dimensional (3D) electrical activation patterns on the entire uterine surface in pregnant sheep. EMMI uses magnetic resonance imaging to obtain subject-specific body-uterus geometry and collects uterine EMG data from up to 256 electrodes on the body surface. EMMI software then solves an ill-posed inverse computation to combine the two datasets and generate maps of electrical activity on the entire 3D uterine surface. Here, we assessed the feasibility to clinically translate EMMI by evaluating EMMI's accuracy under the unavoidable geometrical alterations and electrical noise contamination in a clinical environment. We developed a hybrid experimental-simulation platform to model the effects of fetal kicks, contractions, fetal/maternal movements, and noise contamination caused by maternal respiration and environmental electrical activity. Our data indicate that EMMI can accurately image uterine electrical activity in the presence of geometrical deformations and electrical noise, suggesting that EMMI can be reliably translated to non-invasively image 3D uterine electrical activation in pregnant women.