Open AccessMR imaging in high-risk obstetric patients: a valuable complement to US.
Author(s) -
Teresita L. Angtuaco,
H. Shah,
D R Mattison,
J. Gerald Quirk
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
radiographics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.866
H-Index - 172
eISSN - 1527-1323
pISSN - 0271-5333
DOI - 10.1148/radiographics.12.1.1734485
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , oligohydramnios , prenatal diagnosis , radiology , pelvis , complement (music) , pregnancy , obstetrics , gestation , fetus , biochemistry , chemistry , complementation , biology , gene , genetics , phenotype
The accuracy of prenatal diagnosis has become increasingly critical in the field of high-risk obstetrics. Although ultrasound (US) provides adequate information in most cases and continues to be the initial prenatal examination of choice, there are instances in which the results of the US study may be equivocal. The role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was explored in 27 selected patients with various indications to determine its effectiveness as a complement to US. MR imaging was most helpful in the diagnosis of extrauterine gestation, evaluation of placental position, determination of extent or nature of masses associated with pregnancy, and differentiation between diaphragmatic hernia and a thoracic mass. Although MR imaging did not add information that affected the accuracy of the diagnosis of oligohydramnios, in all other cases it provided an extra dimension in diagnosis by showing clearer anatomic relationships in the pelvis. It has proved to be a valuable complement to an equivocal US study.