Comparative study of ultrasonography and MRI in prenatal diagnosis of foetus with Dandy-Walker variant

Objective Retrospective analysis of the prenatal diagnosis values of fetal head ultrasonography(US) and MRI in fetal Dandy-Walker variant(DWV). Methods A total of 11 fetus suspected diagnosis as fetal DWV prenatal by fetal head US in West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2011 to September 2013 were chosen as study subjects, at the same time, they were underwent fetal head MRI in same hospital.All of those fetuses were followed up until induced labor or 1-year after born.The DWV diagnose gold standard is autopsy results of fetus after induction or brain MRI results of suspected diagnosis as fetal DWV cases and clinical manifestations after 1-year follow-up.The accurate rates of prenatal diagnosis of fetal head US and MRI for fetal DWV were analyzed statistically.The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Board of Investigation in Human Being of West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University.Informed consent was obtained from the parents of each participant. Results Among these 11 cases who were suspected diagnosis as fetal DWV prenatal by fetal head US, while the fetal head MRI results were 6 cases of normal fetus, and 5 cases were diagnosed as fetal DWV.According to the gold standard for diagnosis of fetal DWV, the diagnostic accurate rate of fetal head MRI was higher than that of fetal head US, and the difference was significant(100.0% vs 45.4%, P=0.012). Conclusions Prenatal diagnosis by fetal head US is the preferred method for fetal central nervous system diseases.When fetal DWV were suspected diagnosis by fetal head US, fetal head MRI is a necessary complement examination for final diagnosis of fetal DWV. Key words: Ultrasonography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Central nervous system; Dandy walker variant; Prenatal diagnosis