A comparison of the accuracy of fetal magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography for the diagnosis of fetal congenital malformations of the spine and spinal cord.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for congenital spine/spinal cord malformations.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study included 120 cases of fetal spine/spinal cord abnormalities detected using fetal ultrasonography (US) and further examined by fetal MRI between 2016 and 2020. Cases were divided into three groups (congenital spine, spinal cord, and spine + spinal cord malformations) based on US assessment. We analyzed the accuracy of fetal US and MRI relative to postnatal imaging.

RESULTS

The diagnostic accuracy of fetal MRI for fetal spinal cord, spine, and spine + spinal cord malformations was 86.2% (25/29), 89.4% (42/47), and 86.3% (38/44), respectively, and the corresponding rates for fetal US were 51.7% (15/29), 87.2% (41/47), and 68.2% (30/44). The diagnostic accuracy did not differ between fetal MRI and US for congenital spine malformations (p > 0.05); for congenital spinal cord malformations and congenital spine + spinal cord malformations, the diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher for fetal MRI than for fetal US (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal MRI is effective in the assessment of congenital spine/spinal cord malformations. It can yield information that supplements US findings, especially for congenital spinal cord malformations, and can improve the accuracy of fetal diagnosis.