Prenatal magnetic resonance imaging of cerebellar dysplasia or malformations and coexistent malformations: A retrospective study in a single institution

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To clarify the prenatal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of foetal cerebellar dysplasia/hypoplasia and developmental malformations and evaluate their diagnostic value. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed MR images of foetuses with suspected intracranial anomalies on screening ultrasound (US) on picture archiving communication system (PACS) servers within a five-year period in our institution. The main abnormal findings and coexistent anomalies were recorded by two experienced radiologists with census reading. The MRI and US results were paired and compared in each case. Results: We recruited 121 cases (average gestational week, 24.5 ± 4.7 weeks) with prenatal MR imaging, including sixty-two cases with simple cerebellar dysplasia or hypoplasia, thirty-one cases with other anomalies and twenty-eight cases with normal MR imaging findings. Cerebellar anomalies included intracranial haemorrhage, arachnoid cysts, Blake’s pouch cysts, Dandy-Walker malformation, cerebellar tonsil hernia and vermis absence. Coexistent cerebral malformations included hydrocephalus, cerebral haemorrhage, holoprosencephaly, brainstem/gyri malformation, ventriculomegaly and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Other detected systemic malformations included tethered cord syndromes (9 cases), club foot (1 case), cardiac malformation (1 case) and lip-palate cleft (1 case). Among 49 cases with both prenatal MR and US, MR imaging confirmed the diagnosis and/or provided more abnormal findings than US in 12 cases. Two dead babies after birth were recorded in cerebellar malformation group. Conclusion: Prenatal MR imaging could better show cerebellar anomalies and coexistent systemic malformations. As a complementary tool of US, MR imaging could help prenatal counselling and treatment selection at term.