Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33210202›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2021

The prevalence of brain lesions after in utero surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome on third-trimester MRI: a retrospective cohort study.

Michael Aertsen, Caroline Van Tieghem De Ten Berghe, Sanne Deneckere, Isabel Couck, Luc De Catte, Liesbeth Lewi

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Article in European radiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Michael AertsenDepartment of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Caroline Van Tieghem De Ten BergheFaculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Sanne DeneckereDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Isabel CouckDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Luc De CatteDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Liesbeth LewiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. liesbeth.lewi@uzleuven.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9884-5778
KU Leuven · BE

Funding

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek 1804718N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDue to the increased risk of antenatal brain lesions, we offer a third-trimester magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to all patients who underwent an in utero intervention for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). However, the usefulness of such a policy has not been demonstrated yet. Therefore, we determined the prevalence of antenatal brain lesions detected on third-trimester MRI and the proportion of lesions detected exclusively on MRI. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies complicated by TTTS that underwent laser coagulation of the vascular anastomoses or fetal reduction by umbilical cord occlusion between 2010 and 2017. We reviewed the third-trimester MRI findings and compared those with the prenatal ultrasonography.

resultsOf the 141 patients treated with laser coagulation and 17 managed by cord occlusion, 112/141 (79%) and 15/17 (88%) patients reached 28 weeks. Of those, 69/112 (62%) and 11/15 (73%) underwent an MRI between 28 and 32 weeks. After laser coagulation, MRI detected an antenatal brain lesion in 6 of 69 pregnancies (9%) or in 6 of 125 fetuses (5%). In 4 cases (67%), the lesion was detected only on MRI. In the 11 patients treated with cord occlusion, no brain lesions were diagnosed.

conclusionThe prevalence of brain lesions detected by third-trimester MRI is higher compared to prenatal ultrasonography alone, making MRI a useful adjunct to detect antenatal brain lesions in twin pregnancies after in utero treatment for TTTS. KEY POINTS: • In utero interventions for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) do not prevent the occurrence of antenatal brain lesions. • Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has high accuracy in detecting anomalies of cortical development and can be a useful adjunct to ultrasonography in diagnosing certain brain abnormalities. • After laser coagulation of the anastomoses for TTTS, third-trimester MRI diagnosed a brain lesion that was not detected earlier on ultrasound scan in 6% of pregnancies.

Indexed as

Fetofetal TransfusionBrainFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingPregnancyPregnancy Trimester, ThirdPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesBrainFetofetal transfusionLaser coagulationMagnetic resonance imagingPrenatal ultrasonography

Identifiers

PMID33210202
OpenAlexW3104365176

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.