A case of body stalk anomaly: the value of adding fetal magnetic resonance imaging to ultrasonography for perinatal management

Abstract

Body stalk anomaly (BSA) is a rare congenital anomaly with an abdominal wall defect and is associated limb and spine abnormalities. As BSA is invariably fatal, it is very important to differentiate BSA from potentially treatable abdominal wall defects, such as gastroschisis. The authors report a case of BSA that was diagnosed prenatally using MRI. On prenatal ultrasonographic examination at 30 weeks of gestation, severe gastroschisis was suspected. However, subsequent MRI clearly demonstrated characteristic findings of BSA. The fetus was delivered at 32 weeks of gestation. The parents did not consent to aggressive treatment and the fetus died a few minutes after birth. Fetal MRI is a powerful adjunct to ultrasonography; it provides more comprehensive images of BSA, enabling prudent perinatal management.