Fetal brain imaging: A comparison between fetal ultrasonography and intra uterine magnetic resonance imaging (a systematic review and meta‐analysis)

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare ultrasound (US) and intra uterine MRI (IUMRI) of the brain in the diagnosis of fetal brain abnormalities.

Methods: The present systematic review is done based on guidelines for preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. All major articles comparing fetal US with IUMRI in fetuses with suspected brain abnormalities were qualified. Articles published before 2010 were excluded from the study. An I² > 20% was considered as a sign of significant change. The statistical analysis was done using STATA -15 and Meta-Disk 1.4 applications.

Results: Five articles were considered for meta-analysis. The sensitivity of US and IUMRI in diagnosing fetal abnormalities were 86% and 95%, respectively. The corresponding rates for specificity were 77% and 80%. IUMRI and US were concordant in 72.5% (95% CI: 68%-77%) of diagnoses. However, IUMRI added information in 21.7% of cases, while US added value was only 1.48.

Conclusion: Our results approved the good diagnostic performance of both US and IUMRI in confirming fetal brain normal development and emphasized that US is an appropriate screening technique in pregnancy. In cases of detected abnormalities in US, IUMRI is suggested as it was the most accurate imaging method and added information about the diagnosis in 22.2% of cases.