Myocardial strain assessment in the human fetus by cardiac MRI using Doppler ultrasound gating and feature tracking.

Objectives: Assessment of myocardial strain by feature tracking magnetic resonance imaging (FT-MRI) in human fetuses with and without congenital heart disease (CHD) using cardiac Doppler ultrasound (DUS) gating.

Methods: A total of 43 human fetuses (gestational age 28-41 weeks) underwent dynamic cardiac MRI at 3 T. Cine balanced steady-state free-precession imaging was performed using fetal cardiac DUS gating.

Fetal Cardiovascular MRI - A Systemic Review of the Literature: Challenges, New Technical Developments, and Perspectives.

Background: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a valuable adjunct to ultrasound in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital pathologies of the central nervous system, thorax, and abdomen. Fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was limited, mainly by the lack of cardiac gating, and has only recently evolved due to technical developments.

Method: A literature search was performed on PubMed, focusing on technical advancements to perform fetal CMR.

Spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence: diagnosis, management, and outcome in an international cohort of 249 cases.

Background: Twin anemia polycythemia sequence is a chronic form of unbalanced fetofetal transfusion through minuscule placental anastomoses in monochorionic twins, leading to anemia in the donor and polycythemia in the recipient. Owing to the low incidence of twin anemia polycythemia sequence, data on diagnosis, management, and outcome are limited.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the diagnosis, management, and outcome in a large international cohort of spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence.

Fetal dynamic magnetic resonance imaging using Doppler ultrasound gating for the assessment of the aortic isthmus: A feasibility study.

Introduction: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is established in cardiac evaluation in postnatal life, but its application to the fetus has been hampered by technical limitations. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of dynamic MRI of the fetal aortic isthmus using a magnetic resonance-compatible Doppler ultrasound device for cardiac gating.

Material And Methods: This prospective study included 19 fetuses at a median gestational age of 32.

Post-Laser Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence: Diagnosis, Management, and Outcome in an International Cohort of 164 Cases.

The aim of this study was to investigate the management and outcome in the post-laser twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS). Data of the international TAPS Registry, collected between 2014 and 2019, were used for this study. The primary outcomes were perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity.

The effect of pregnancy on growth-dynamics of neurofibromas in Neurofibromatosis type 1.

Introduction: Patients with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) develop plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) and cutaneous neurofibromas. These tumors are a major cause of the patient's morbidity and mortality. An influence of estrogen and progesterone on tumor growth has been suggested but reports on growth or malignant transformation of tumors during pregnancy remain anecdotal.

[Chorangioma of the Placenta - A Rare Placental Cause of Fetal High Output Cardiac Failure].

Chorangiomas of the placenta, benign tumors of chorionic tissue, are a rare placental cause of adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. We describe the case of a large placental chorangioma leading to polyhydramnios as well as consecutive preterm birth and high output cardiac failure of the newborn. Derived from a literature review, we suggest instructions for diagnosis and optimal prenatal care in case of a a suspected placental chorangioma.

Discordance of umbilical coiling index between recipients and donors in twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Introduction: To compare the intertwin umbilical cord coiling in twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) before fetoscopic laser treatment and to correlate these with Doppler findings in both twins.

Methods: We performed a prospective study using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound with color Doppler imaging of the umbilical cord in TTTS. Coiling index was measured as a reciprocal value of one complete vascular coil.

Dynamic fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging using Doppler ultrasound gating.

Background: Fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging may provide a valuable adjunct to fetal echocardiography in the evaluation of congenital cardiovascular pathologies. However, dynamic fetal CMR is difficult due to the lack of direct in-utero cardiac gating. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a newly developed Doppler ultrasound (DUS) device in humans for fetal CMR gating.

Evaluation of a Portable Doppler Ultrasound Gating Device for Fetal Cardiac MR Imaging: Initial Results at 1.5T and 3T.

Purpose: Fetal cardiac MRI has the potential to play an important role in the assessment of fetal cardiac pathologies, but it is up to now not feasible due to a missing gating method. The purpose of this work was the evaluation of Doppler ultrasound (DUS) for external fetal cardiac gating with regard to compatibility, functionality, and reliability. Preliminary results were assessed performing fetal cardiac MRI.

BOLD MRI in the brain of fetal sheep at 3T during experimental hypoxia.

Purpose: To calculate regional fetal brain oxygen saturation (sO2) during hypoxia in sheep.

Materials And Methods: Eight pregnant ewes were examined at a 3T MR-scanner using blood oxygenation level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-MRI) to measure signal intensity changes of the fetal brain during a control period and a period of induced hypoxia. Regions of interest were placed in the fetal cerebrum to assess ΔR2* from GRE signal intensity plateaus (S(control), S(hypoxia)) and the relation between ΔR2* and ΔpO2 was analyzed.

Fetal blood flow velocimetry by phase-contrast MRI using a new triggering method and comparison with Doppler ultrasound in a sheep model: a pilot study.

Object: We present the first study demonstrating the feasibility of antenatal blood flow velocimetry performing ECG triggered phase-contrast (PC)-MRI in the fetal aorta by using a newly developed Doppler ultrasound trigger.

Materials And Methods: Five pregnant sheep carrying singleton fetuses (gestational age 121 days) were anesthetized to undergo fetal 2D PC-MRI in the fetal descending aorta (1.5 T) using a newly developed MR-compatible Doppler ultrasound trigger for fetal cardiac triggering.