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BMC Medical Imaging

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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Quantification of maceration changes using post mortem MRI in fetuses

Authors: P. Montaldo, S. Addison, V. Oliveira, P. J. Lally, A. M. Taylor, N. J. Sebire, S. Thayyil, O. J. Arthurs

Published in: BMC Medical Imaging | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Background

Post mortem imaging is playing an increasingly important role in perinatal autopsy, and correct interpretation of imaging changes is paramount. This is particularly important following intra-uterine fetal death, where there may be fetal maceration. The aim of this study was to investigate whether any changes seen on a whole body fetal post mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) correspond to maceration at conventional autopsy.

Methods

We performed pre-autopsy PMMR in 75 fetuses using a 1.5 Tesla Siemens Avanto MR scanner (Erlangen, Germany). PMMR images were reported blinded to the clinical history and autopsy data using a numerical severity scale (0 = no maceration changes to 2 = severe maceration changes) for 6 different visceral organs (total 12). The degree of maceration at autopsy was categorized according to severity on a numerical scale (1 = no maceration to 4 = severe maceration). We also generated quantitative maps to measure the liver and lung T₂.

Results

The mean PMMR maceration score correlated well with the autopsy maceration score (R² = 0.93). A PMMR score of ≥4.5 had a sensitivity of 91 %, specificity of 64 %, for detecting moderate or severe maceration at autopsy. Liver and lung T₂ were increased in fetuses with maceration scores of 3–4 in comparison to those with 1–2 (liver p = 0.03, lung p = 0.02).

Conclusions

There was a good correlation between PMMR maceration score and the extent of maceration seen at conventional autopsy. This score may be useful in interpretation of fetal PMMR.

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Title: Quantification of maceration changes using post mortem MRI in fetuses
Authors: P. Montaldo
S. Addison
V. Oliveira
P. J. Lally
A. M. Taylor
N. J. Sebire
S. Thayyil
O. J. Arthurs
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medical Imaging / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2342
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-016-0137-9

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Quantification of maceration changes using post mortem MRI in fetuses

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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