1 - Serviço de Neurorradiologia, Unidade Local De Saúde Matosinhos – Hospital Pedro Hispano
2 - Serviço de Neurorradiologia, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho Centro
3 - Serviço de Neurorradiologia, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central
- XVI Congresso da SPNR Diagnóstica e Terapêutica - 19 e 20 de novembro 2021, Lisboa
- Neuroradiology volume 64, pages 1047–1076 (2022); doi.org/10.1007/s00234-022-02903-2
Posterior fossa malformations (PFM) represent a large and frequent group of pathologies in pediatric neuroradiology, and it is essential for neuroradiologists to be familiarized with the main imaging findings of these entities in fetal MRI. Our goal is to systematize the main PFM and how they present in fetal MRI and to correlate the imaging findings with post-natal MRI, autopsy results, genetic studies and clinical outcome, when available.
A total of 818 fetal MRIs, performed between January 2012 and September 2021, from two portuguese Hospital Centres (Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia – Espinho and Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central – Hospital Dona Estefânia) were reviewed. MR findings were divided in five different groups: 1) predominantly vermian involvement, 2) global cerebellar involvement, 3) unilateral cerebellar involvement, 4) cerebellar and brainstem involvement and 5) predominantly brainstem involvement and representative cases from the different categories were selected for pictorial review.
Recognition of the main PFM and their main imaging features on fetal MRI as well as their associated neurological prognosis is paramount for an early and accurate prenatal diagnosis and counseling.
Palavras Chave: Brain stem; Cerebellum; Fetal MRI; Posterior fossa malformations