SynthesisNeuroradiology2022
What brain abnormalities can magnetic resonance imaging detect in foetal and early neonatal spina bifida: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Neuroradiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Interhemispheric fissure distortion in fetal open spina bifida: an under-recognized prenatal ultrasound finding.Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2026Article
- Cranial magnetic resonance imaging findings in 167 patients with spina bifida aperta: a retrospective study.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2025Review
- TMagnetic resonance in medicine · 2025Article
- Characterizing the In Utero Phenome of the Chiari II Malformation-A Network Medicine Approach, Using Fetal MRI.Prenatal diagnosis · 2025Article
- Isolated Fetal Ventriculomegaly: Diagnosis and Treatment in the Prenatal Period.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- A qualitative analysis of patient and caregiver experiences with myelomeningocele through online discussion boards.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2024Article
- Longitudinal MRI in the context of in utero surgery for open spina bifida: A descriptive study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2024Article
- Fetal gestational age prediction via shape descriptors of cortical development.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2024Article
- Assessment of longitudinal brain development using super-resolution magnetic resonance imaging following fetal surgery for open spina bifida.Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2023Article
- Implementation and Assessment of a Laparotomy-Assisted Three-Port Fetoscopic Spina Bifida Repair Program.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Clinical Assessment of Fetal Well-Being and Fetal Safety Indicators.Journal of clinical pharmacology · 2022Review
- The Role of Fetal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Current Fetal Medicine.Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology · 2022Article
- A spatio-temporal atlas of the developing fetal brain with spina bifida aperta.Open research Europe · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
purposeOpen spina bifida (OSB) encompasses a wide spectrum of intracranial abnormalities. With foetal surgery as a new treatment option, robust intracranial imaging is important for comprehensive preoperative evaluation and prognostication. We aimed to determine the incidence of infratentorial and supratentorial findings detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone and MRI compared to ultrasound.
methodsTwo systematic reviews comparing MRI to ultrasound and MRI alone were conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases identifying studies of foetal OSB from 2000 to 2020. Intracranial imaging findings were analysed at ≤ 26 or > 26 weeks gestation and neonates (≤ 28 days). Data was independently extracted by two reviewers and meta-analysis was performed where possible.
resultsThirty-six studies reported brain abnormalities detected by MRI alone in patients who previously had an ultrasound. Callosal dysgenesis was identified in 4/29 cases (2 foetuses ≤ 26 weeks, 1 foetus under any gestation, and 1 neonate ≤ 28 days) (15.1%, CI:5.7-34.3%). Heterotopia was identified in 7/40 foetuses ≤ 26 weeks (19.8%, CI:7.7-42.2%), 9/36 foetuses > 26 weeks (25.3%, CI:13.7-41.9%), and 64/250 neonates ≤ 28 days (26.9%, CI:15.3-42.8%). Additional abnormalities included aberrant cortical folding and other Chiari II malformation findings such as lower cervicomedullary kink level, tectal beaking, and hypoplastic tentorium. Eight studies compared MRI directly to ultrasound, but due to reporting inconsistencies, it was not possible to meta-analyse.
conclusionMRI is able to detect anomalies hitherto underestimated in foetal OSB which may be important for case selection. In view of increasing prenatal OSB surgery, further studies are required to assess developmental consequences of these findings.
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