Purpose or Case Report: Fetal lung maturity is a key factor determining perinatal morbidity and mortality. Clinicians can perform amniocentesis and evaluate the amniotic fluid for certain surfactant byproducts such as lethicin, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylglycerol to assess lung maturity. However, amniocentesis is invasive, and its results can be prone to errors. Imaging can offer a reliable non-invasive alternative that can be used for prognostication as well as suggestion of further follow up. Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice to assess fetal development. It is readily available on widespread scale to assess for various abnormalities that can occur during pregnancy. Parameters used to assess fetal lung maturity on ultrasound include lung to head ratio as well as the observed/expected lung to head ratio. However, ultrasound parameters can be subjective, have inter- and intra-observer variability and depend highly on the imaging technique and quality. The advent of ultrafast MRI sequences expanded its use in fetal imaging offering an alternative to ultrasound. It is generally used as a problem-solving tool due its excellent soft tissue resolution. Two parameters are gaining acceptance as means to assess fetal lung development on MRI: lung volume measurements and lung/liver signal intensity ratio. Our exhibit aims at familiarizing pediatric radiologists with parameters used to assess lung development on both ultrasound and MRI.
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Conclusions: Imaging plays a central role in assessment of fetal lung development, which helps in risk stratification, and management of fetuses with various congenital lung lesions.