Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42322425›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2026

Serial prenatal MRI evaluation of valacyclovir-treated vs untreated fetuses with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection.

Mario Tortora, Elisa Fabbri, Alessia Arossa, Milena Furione, Luisa Chiapparini, Guglielmo Conti, Giana Izzo, Cecilia Parazzini, Filippo Arrigoni, Stefania Criscuolo and 4 more

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Article in European radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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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

14 authors.

Mario TortoraNeuroradiology Unit, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. mario.tortora@unina.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4745-3061
Elisa FabbriChildren's Hospital V. Buzzi-ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Milan, Italy.
Alessia ArossaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Milena FurioneMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Luisa ChiappariniRadiodiagnostic and Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Guglielmo ContiPostgraduate School of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Università Statale di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Giana IzzoPaediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Unit, Children's Hospital V. Buzzi-ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.
Cecilia ParazziniPaediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Unit, Children's Hospital V. Buzzi-ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.
Filippo ArrigoniPaediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Unit, Children's Hospital V. Buzzi-ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.
Stefania CriscuoloRadiodiagnostic and Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Fabio TortoraNeuroradiology Unit, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Mariano LannaChildren's Hospital V. Buzzi-ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Milan, Italy.
Andrea RighiniPaediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Unit, Children's Hospital V. Buzzi-ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.
Chiara DonedaPaediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Unit, Children's Hospital V. Buzzi-ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo compare serial prenatal MRI findings in valacyclovir-treated vs untreated fetuses with confirmed congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, focusing on the occurrence and timing of minor brain lesions. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn this retrospective single-center cohort study, fetuses with confirmed cCMV infection and at least two prenatal brain MRI examinations were included. Fetuses with major brain malformations at baseline were excluded. Treated fetuses received oral valacyclovir (8 g/day) from diagnosis to delivery. Two senior neuroradiologists assessed MRI examinations in consensus, focusing on minor lesions (temporal pole T2 hyperintensity, focal temporal horn dilation, small cysts). Lesion timing was categorized as absent, late-onset, or early-onset. Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact test, χ²-test, and odds ratios.

resultsSeventy-seven fetuses were included (62 untreated, 15 treated). Persistently negative MRI findings were observed in 73.3% of treated fetuses vs 37.1% of untreated fetuses (p = 0.018; OR 4.67, 95% CI: 1.29-16.9). Early-onset minor lesions were observed only in untreated fetuses (11.3%). A significant difference between groups was confirmed when analysis was restricted to temporal pole lesions (p = 0.02).

conclusionMaternal valacyclovir therapy was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of persistently normal prenatal MRI findings and absence of early minor brain lesions, suggesting a protective effect on fetal brain involvement in cCMV. KEY POINTS: Question Minor temporal pole lesions are common early MRI findings in cCMV. Findings Valacyclovir-treated fetuses showed fewer and later-onset minor lesions. Clinical relevance Serial fetal MRI may serve as an imaging surrogate marker of treatment response.

Indexed as

Congenital cytomegalovirusFetal MRIPrenatal imagingTemporal pole lesionsValacyclovir

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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.