Contribution of MRI to detect further anomalies in fetal ventriculomegaly.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting further anomalies in fetal ventriculomegaly (VM). METHODS: From March 2006 to March 2008, fasting MRI scanning was performed on 70 women in whom ultrasonography (US) diagnosed fetal VM at Shengjing Hospital affiliated to the China Medical University. The US and MRIs were then compared. RESULT: US diagnosed 41 cases of unilateral VM and 29 cases of bilateral VM; 51 cases (72.86%) being mild, 17 cases moderate and 2 cases severe VM. Eight fetuses showed additional brain hemorrhage and other anomalies on MRI. Among these 8 cases, 1 (2.44%, 1/41) had unilateral VM, whereas 7 (24.13%, 7/29) had bilateral VM (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.007). On the other hand, 2 of 8 cases (25%) had mild VM, whereas 6 of 8 cases (75%) had moderate/severe VM (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: MRI mainly modified the US diagnoses when the fetus had bilateral VM or moderate/severe VM. The most common additional diagnosis was brain hemorrhage.