Consistency of fetal brain ultrasound screening and neurosonogram with MRI

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the consistency of fetal brain ultrasound screening and neurosonogram (NSG) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the clinical values of ultrasound and NSG in the diagnosis of fetal nervous system abnormalities, and the values of NSG in the diagnosis of fetal brain malformations. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 221 gravidas who were diagnosed with fetal brain development abnormality by ultrasound screening or NSG in Peking University First Hospital between January 2012 and July 2015 and received fetal brain MRI within one week after ultrasound examination. According to the saved images, the 221 cases were divided into two groups: fetal brain ultrasound basic screening group (111 cases) which had three basic transverse planes and NSG group (110 cases) which had ten basic transverse planes. There were four conditions according to the diagnostic results of ultrasonography and MRI: ultrasonography and MRI suggesting the same diseases (A); ultrasonography and MRI suggesting the same diseases, but MRI providing more information for diagnosis (B); ultrasonography and MRI suggesting different diseases (C); ultrasonography suggesting abnormal, but MRI suggesting normal (D). Diagnostic results of ultrasonography and MRI were respectively comparatively analyzed in the two groups. T-test and Chi-test were used for statistical analysis. Results The diagnostic results for NSG group and fetal brain ultrasound basic screening group were listed as follows: A: 70.9%(78/110) and 44.1%(49/111); B: 7.3% (8/110) and 8.1% (9/111); C: 3.6% (4/110) and 21.6% (24/111); D: 18.2% (20/110) and 26.1% (29/111). The consistency with MRI results was higher in NSG group than that of fetal brain ultrasound basic screening group (χ2=18.985, P<0.001). Conclusions Compared with fetal brain ultrasound basic screening, NSG provides more consistent results with MRI, suggesting its great clinical value in the diagnosis of fetal nervous system malformations. Key words: Nervous system malformations; Ultrasonography, prenatal; Magnetic resonance imaging; Central nervous system