MR Fetus Brain WO
Call or page radiologist for protocol and scan check
Each case has an assigned provider (radiologist) in Epic — please communicate with radiologist before case begins to confirm protocol. Page radiologist at start of case as a courtesy heads-up. Page radiologist near the end of case to get images checked.
Protocol Description
- Version (Last Updated):
2025-05-08
- Scanner Preference:
Only MR2 or CHMR2
- Coil:
Body
- Field-of-View (FOV):
- Maternal Uterus
- Fetal Brain
- Technical Notes:
- Each case has an assigned provider (radiologist) in Epic — communicate with radiologist before case begins to confirm protocol
- Page radiologist at start of case as a courtesy heads-up
- Page radiologist near the end of case to get images checked
- Additional and/or repeat sequences are common due to fetal motion
- Each case has an assigned provider (radiologist) in Epic — communicate with radiologist before case begins to confirm protocol
- Indications:
Recommendation by obstetrician or radiologist interpreting prior prenatal ultrasound. Common indications include:
- Ventriculomegaly
- Midline abnormalities — including absent cavum septi pellucidi (CSP), suspected agenesis / dysgenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC / DCC), suspected holoprosencephaly
- Posterior fossa abnormalities — including Chiari 2 malformation, vermian hypoplasia, mega cisterna magna
- Neural tube defects (NTD) — including myelomeningocele, myelocele / myeloschisis, other spinal dysraphisms
- Suspected brain injury — including germinal matrix hemorrhage / intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH), encephaloclastic injury, in utero infection
- Approval:
Michael Regner, MD, MS
- Charge As:
MRI Fetus WO
Required Sequences:
| Plane | Weighting | Mode | Slice (mm) | Gap (mm) | FAT SAT | FOV (cm) | MPR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uterus | ||||||||
| COR | T2 | 2D SS / HASTE | 5 | 1 | no | 35-45 | no | Cover whole uterus. Coronal to mother. |
| SAG | T2 | 2D SS / HASTE | 5 | 1 | no | 35-45 | no | Cover whole uterus. Sagittal to mother. |
| AXIAL | T2 | 2D SS / HASTE | 5 | 1 | no | 35-45 | no | Cover whole uterus. Axial to mother. |
| Brain | ||||||||
| AXIAL | T2 | 2D SS / HASTE | 3 | 0.5 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Axial to fetal head. |
| SAG | T2 | 2D SS / HASTE | 3 | 0.5 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Sagittal to fetal head. |
| COR | T2 | 2D SS / HASTE | 3 | 0.5 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Coronal to fetal head. |
| AXIAL | T1 | 2D TFE | 6 | 0 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Axial to fetal head. |
| AXIAL | T2* | 2D FFE | 5 | 1 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Axial to fetal head. |
| AXIAL | DWI | EPI | 3 | 0.3 | YES | 22-31 | no | Send ONLY the isoB1000 and ADC as individual series; do not send B0 stack |
| SAG | T2 | 2D BTFE / bSSFP | 7 | -3.5 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Sagittal to fetal head. Do not send MIP images. |
| COR | T2 | 2D BTFE / bSSFP | 7 | -3.5 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Coronal to fetal head. Do not send MIP images. |
| AXIAL | T2 | 2D BTFE / bSSFP | 7 | -3.5 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Axial to fetal head. Do not send MIP images. |
Optional Sequences:
| Plane | Weighting | Mode | Slice (mm) | Gap (mm) | FAT SAT | FOV (cm) | MPR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COR | T1 | 2D TFE | 6 | 0 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Axial to fetal head. |
| COR | T2* | 2D FFE | 5 | 1 | no | 22-30 | no | Cover fetal head. Axial to fetal head. |
| COR | DWI | EPI | 3 | 0.3 | YES | 22-30 | no | Send ONLY the isoB1000 and ADC as individual series; do not send B0 stack |