The value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of congenital anomalies of the fetal body: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: BMC medical imaging 2024-05, Vol.24 (1), p.111-111, Article 111
• Main Authors: Wilson, Louise, Whitby, Elspeth H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Accuracy; Bias; Birth defects; Case reports; Clinical medicine; Congenital Abnormalities - diagnostic imaging; Congenital anomalies; Congenital anomaly; Congenital defects; Data collection; Diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; Female; Fetal; Fetal diseases; Fetuses; Humans; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical imaging; Meta-analysis; Obstetrical research; Patients; Pregnancy; Prenatal diagnosis; Prenatal Diagnosis - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Systematic Review; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - methods; Ultrasound; Urogenital system
• ISSN: 1471-2342; 1471-2342
• DOI: 10.1186/s12880-024-01286-5

To undertake a systematic review to assess the accuracy of fetal MRI in diagnosis of non-CNS congenital anomalies of the fetal body in comparison with antenatal ultrasound when correlated to postnatal diagnosis. Searches were conducted from electronic databases, key journals and reference lists for eligible papers. Inclusion criteria was original research studies comparing the diagnostic results of antenatal ultrasound, fetal MRI and final postnatal diagnosis via imaging, surgery or post-mortem testing. Studies of CNS anomalies were excluded. Studies were assessed for risk of bias by two reviewers working independently and data was then extracted by a single reviewer. 12 studies were included with a total of 361 eligible patients who underwent USS and MRI and had a postnatal diagnosis. USS alone had a diagnostic accuracy of 60.6% whereas MRI had an improved diagnostic accuracy of 86.4%. The overall odds ratio was 0.86 (CI 0.202-1.519 and p-value