Variation in prognosis given by fetomaternal units in fetuses with neurological abnormalities

The ‘MRI to enhance the diagnosis of fetal developmental brain abnormalities in utero’ (MERIDIAN) study showed improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence for detecting fetal neurological abnormalities compared with ultrasound. The additional information provided by in utero MRI altered prognosis in 44% of women, although clinicians reported it changed prognosis in only 24%.1 2 The reasons for this discrepancy are not clear, and the MERIDIAN study did not report whether the neurodevelopmental prognoses given to women varied between clinicians or were accurate. We contacted one clinician at each of the MERIDIAN fetomaternal units and asked what percentage chance of normal neurodevelopmental outcome they would give pregnant women …