Postmortem fetal magnetic resonance imaging: where do we stand?

Abstract

Postmortem fetal magnetic resonance imaging (PMFMRI) is increasingly used thanks to its good overall concordance with histology paralleling the rising incidence of parental refusal of autopsy. The technique could become a routine clinical examination but it needs to be standardized and conducted by trained radiologists. Such radiologists should be aware of not only the (congenital and acquired) anomalies that can involve the fetus, but also of the "physiological" postmortem changes. In this article, we intend to focus on the contribution of PMFMRI based on the existing literature and on our own experience, as we presently perform the technique routinely in our clinical practice.

Key Points

• Concordance rates between PMFMRI and autopsy are high for detecting fetal pathologies.

• PMFMRI is more acceptable for parents than traditional autopsy.

• PMFMRI is becoming widely used as a part of the postmortem investigations.

• A dedicated radiologist needs to learn to interpret correctly a PMFMRI.

• PMFMRI can be easily realized in daily clinical practice.

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