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Abstract: Placenta accreta is a life-threatening obstetrical condition requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Despite identified obstetrical risk factors, the diagnosis is often made at the time of delivery. Recent advances in biology could allow a prenatal screening of placenta accreta with the identification of biological markers in maternal blood including cell-free fetal DNA, placental mRNA, and DNA microarray. These promising technologies can detect the presence of anomalies and should play a future role in developing a better understanding of placental invasion. Ultrasound imaging is popular due to its low cost and accessibility and widely used for the screening of placenta location and potential abnormal development. This exam is associated with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of placenta accreta when specific defined criteria are used for the diagnosis. A placental MRI provides a morphological description, as well as recently demonstrated topographical information that optimizes diagnosis and surgical management. The screening of placenta accreta should be improved with the use of a combination of these diagnostic techniques and benefit high-risk populations with a reduction in morbidity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives To investigate the correlation between fetal lung volume (FLV), measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and postnatal mortality in newborns with prenatally diagnosed isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods In a 4-year prospective multi center study, 77 fetuses with isolated CDH diagnosed between 20 and 33 necks' gestation underwent fast spin-echo T2- weighted lung MRI. These MRI-FLV measurements were compared with a previously published normative curve obtained in 215 fetuses without thoracoabdominal malformations and with normal ultrasound biometric findings. FLV measurements were correlated with postnatal survival. The mean gestational age at MRI was 31.3 weeks. Results The measured/expected FLV ratio was significantly lower in the newborns with CDH who died compared with those who survived (23.6 ± 12.2 vs. 36.1 ± 13.0, P < 0.001). When the ratio was below 25%, there was a significant decrease in postnatal survival (19% vs. 40.3%, P = 0.008). Survival was significantly lower for neonates when one lung could not be seen by fetal MRI compared with those fetuses with two visible lungs on MRI (17.9% vs. 62.1%, P < 0.001). Conclusion In isolated CDH, FLV measurement by MRI is a good predictor of postnatal mortality due to pulmonary hypoplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the case of a young patient with neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) who presented with temporary aphasia and right hemiparesis followed by progressive coma and death. To our knowledge, this is the first case of this disease examined by CT, MRI, angiography and in which an autopsy was performed to assert the diagnosis with histology. Besides, we discuss differential diagnoses and interest of MRI for early diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the case of a fetus with a sonographic mid-gestation diagnosis of hyperechogenic cerebellum suspected to be of hemorrhagic origin on fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). No etiological factors for fetal hemorrhage were found other than a maternal heterozygocity for factor V Leiden. Following termination of the pregnancy, autopsy confirmed the prenatal diagnosis of massive cerebellar hemorrhage without underlying vascular anomaly. As an additional tool to ultrasonography, fetal brain MRI can affirm the hemorrhagic origin of hyperechogenic cerebellar lesions, especially by showing a high signal on T1-weighted images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]