Purpose or Case Report: The objective of this exhibit is to illustrate common fetal central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 Tesla.
Methods & Materials: A total of 80 fetuses between 19 and 34 weeks of gestation with suspected CNS anomalies based on prenatal ultrasound underwent MRI at 3.0 Tesla over the course of the past 2 years at our institution. All examinations were obtained under supervision of the interpreting pediatric radiologist. Images depicting characteristic findings of common CNS abnormalities were extracted from the data set. Diagnoses reviewed include Dandy-Walker malformation and other posterior fossa cystic anomalies, holoprosencephaly, agenesis and dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, neuronal migration/organization anomalies including polymicrogyria and lissencephaly, Chiari II malformation, and frontal and occipital encephalocele.
Results: While ultrasound serves as a highly useful screening examination of the fetus, MRI generates higher resolution images which may be more readily aligned to anatomical structures, enabling a more systematic and detailed evaluation of CNS anatomy. These advantages have resulted in increased demand for fetal MRI at our facility and elsewhere.

We have safely performed fetal MRI at 3.0 Tesla in 80 patients, with excellent diagnostic outcomes.
The expansion of 3.0 Tesla instruments in pediatric healthcare facilities has driven recent advances in MRI technology to yield faster, safer and more sophisticated techniques for improved diagnosis of congenital CNS malformations.
Conclusions: Fetal CNS malformations include a broad range of pathology. 3.0 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a safe and important complementary tool to fetal ultrasound for comprehensive evaluation and to guide clinical decision making.