Fetal MRI Neuroradiology Indications

Fetal MRI is a noninvasive imaging examination that provides useful information in the evaluation of the fetus and placenta and is complementary to obstetric ultrasonography. As such, fetal MRI is considered a second-line imaging study that is performed after the routinely obtained anatomic ultrasonography. Fetal MRI is used in select pregnancies for fetal and/or uterine evaluation when ultrasonography is inadequate, or the abnormality is incompletely visualized according to practice parameters described jointly by the American College of Radiology and Society of Pediatric Radiology.1 MRI becomes a particularly powerful tool when ultrasonography is limited by poor acoustic windows and suboptimal sound penetration of fetus.2 Factors that can impede ultrasound evaluation of the uterus include: