Fetal brain imaging: A comparison between fetal ultrasonography and intra uterine magnetic resonance imaging (a systematic review and meta‐analysis)

• Published in: Journal of clinical ultrasound Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 491 - 499
• Main Authors: Moradi, Behnaz, Parooie, Fateme, Kazemi, Mohammad Ali, Hashemi, Hassan, Miratashi Yazdi, Seyedeh Nooshin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-05-2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Brain; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Diagnosis; Female; fetal brain; fetal brain imaging; Fetus - diagnostic imaging; Fetuses; Humans; intra uterine magnetic resonance imaging; Literature reviews; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical imaging; Meta-analysis; Neuroimaging; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis - methods; Statistical analysis; Systematic review; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - methods; ultrasound; Uterus; fetal brain imaging; intra uterine magnetic resonance imaging; fetal brain; ultrasound
• ISSN: 0091-2751; 1097-0096
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23158

Objective
The aim of this study was to compare ultrasound (US) and intra uterine MRI (IUMRI) of the brain in the diagnosis of fetal brain abnormalities.
Methods
The present systematic review is done based on guidelines for preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analysis. All major articles comparing fetal US with IUMRI in fetuses with suspected brain abnormalities were qualified. Articles published before 2010 were excluded from the study. An I2 > 20% was considered as a sign of significant change. The statistical analysis was done using STATA −15 and Meta‐Disk 1.4 applications.
Results
Five articles were considered for meta‐analysis. The sensitivity of US and IUMRI in diagnosing fetal abnormalities were 86% and 95%, respectively. The corresponding rates for specificity were 77% and 80%. IUMRI and US were concordant in 72.5% (95% CI: 68%–77%) of diagnoses. However, IUMRI added information in 21.7% of cases, while US added value was only 1.48.
Conclusion
Our results approved the good diagnostic performance of both US and IUMRI in confirming fetal brain normal development and emphasized that US is an appropriate screening technique in pregnancy. In cases of detected abnormalities in US, IUMRI is suggested as it was the most accurate imaging method and added information about the diagnosis in 22.2% of cases.
Summary receiver (SROC) curve for intra uterine MRI (IUMRI) (A) and US (B) in diagnosing fetal brain abnormalities