Diffusion-weighted imaging in fetuses with severe congenital heart defects

• Authors: J. I. Berman, University of California, San Francisco; Shannon Hamrick, Emory University; P. S. McQuillen, University of California, San Francisco; C. Studholme, University of California, San Francisco; D. Xu, University of California, San Francisco; R. G. Henry, University of California, San Francisco; L. K. Hornberger, University of Alberta; O. A. Glenn, University of California, San Francisco
• Journal Title: American Journal of Neuroradiology
• Volume: Volume 32, Number 2
• Publisher: AJNR | 2011-02-01, Pages E21-E22
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A1975
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Radiology; Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, Human Development
• Keywords: Agenesis of Corpus Callosum; Corpus Callosum; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Female; Fetal Diseases; Heart Defects, Congenital; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis; Severity of Illness Index; Thalamus

Abstract

Fetal diffusion MR imaging was performed in 3 fetuses with CHD. ADC values in the periatrial WM, thalamus, and basal ganglia were compared with those in a control population of fetuses. Diffusivity in the periatrial WM and thalamus was higher for the fetuses with CHD compared with controls. These observations support the finding of abnormal in utero brain development in fetuses with CHD.