For example, animal studies have shown that the MRI signal of oxygenated hemoglobin is different from the MRI signal of deoxygenated hemoglobin. Utilizing such differences in fetal MRI imaging could enable us to identify oxygen deprivation in fetal and placental tissues.
Advances with MRI spectroscopy, moreover, could provide us with further detailed information on tissue metabolism. Collectively, such advances in MRI could revolutionize research and ultimately clinical assessment of the fetus.
Know the Fetus
The driving force in contemporary times behind the need to evaluate the fetus is the desire of parents to know the most about their fetus as early as possible. Medical indications also may dictate when fetal evaluation is conducted and fetal development assessed.
Prior to the development of ultrasound, such assessment was not possible. However, with the advent of ultrasound technology and other developments that have progressively increased its sophistication, ultrasound imaging has become a reality and an increasingly useful tool. It has been advancing at such a rapid rate that fetal imaging has moved from the third trimester to the second, and even to the first. Not only is fetal growth assessed, but some of the intricacies of fetal development are evaluated as well.
The invasive method of fetal evaluation has taken a similar pathway, expanding from amniocentesis to embryofetoscopy to chorionic-villus sampling to analyte markers in maternal blood. The desire to know more continues to drive the field.
Parents and their physicians call for the greatest possible degree of accuracy and information on the developing fetus.
Fetal MRI technology is an additional tool that is fast evolving in fetal medicine to meet this desire.
At the same time, many have appreciated the limitations of ultrasound technology, which are based upon maternal obesity, fetal position, gestational age, and developmental status of the fetus.
Because of its unique technology, MRI is able to provide added value and new information that was not heretofore possible using current ultrasound technology.
It is in this light that we believe that a Master Class addressing this newest evolving technology is in order.
We have invited Dr. Ray Bahado-Singh, a professor of maternal-fetal medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit and an expert in genetics and prenatal diagnosis, to discuss fetal MRI in detail and to highlight how this new technology may further advance the diagnosis of fetal anomalies.
Key Points
▸ MRI is a rapidly developing technology for fetal diagnosis, and maternal-fetal medicine specialists should develop expertise and collaboration with radiologists.
▸ Substantial clinical and research data demonstrate improvement of CNS diagnoses when MRI is performed after targeted ultrasound.
▸ Emerging data suggest improvement in diagnosis when MRI is used for neck and thoracic abnormalities, excluding the heart.