The role of prenatal ultrasound and MRI in diagnosis of fetal agenesis of corpus callosum

Abstract

Objective To discuss the value of prenatal ultrasound and MRI in diagnosis of fetal agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC). Methods Sixty-seven fetuses from Hubei Maternal and Children's Hospital performed fetal MRI from July 2013 to December 2014 were included in this study. All fetuses (67 cases) with suspected ACC were studied with a 1.5T MR unit within 3 days after ultrasound examination. Prenatal ultrasound and MRI findings were studied. Results All the 67 ACCs previously suspected on ultrasound were confirmed by MRI. Among the 67 ACCs, 58 cases were complete ACC and 9 cases were partial ACC. Corpus callosum body and/or splenium absence was found in all 9 partial ACC cases. In all cases, on MRI, corpus callosum complete or partial absence was showed on the median sagittal images, and mild to moderate ventriculomegaly and abnormal morphology in lateral ventricle was shown on the axial or coronary images. Conclusions MRI has high value in diagnosis of ACC. When ACC is found or suspected by ultrasonophy, MRI examination is suggested to confirm the diagnosis. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Magnetic resonance imaging; Fetus; Agenesis of corpus callosum