MR imaging in congenital complicated anterior body wall defects

Abstract

Aim of this study was to estimate the value of postmortem MR imaging in evaluation of specimen with congenital anterior body wall defects of the museum of pathologic-anatomy. We examined 19 specimen with a 1.5 Tesla unit by using T 1 - and T 2 -weighted sagittal and coronal sequences. In some specimen additional axial T 2 -weighted images were obtained. We evaluated the site of the bowel, the liver, the heart and presence of associated disorders. The bowels were completely intraabdominal, in two specimen, completely extraabdominal in 12 specimen and in 5 specimen intra- and extraabdominal. The liver was in two specimen completely extraabdominal/ in 12 completely intracorporal, and in 5 specimen intra- and extraabdominal. In 5 cases the heart was located extraanatomically. In 12 specimen we found disorders of the spine and the extremities. Congenital disorders of the kidneys were found in 6 specimen. MR imaging is of great value in the assessment of congenital anterior body wall defects. In the light of ultrafast sequences the role of fetal MR imaging in the evaluation of congenital body wall defects may be mandatory in the future.