Prenatal assessment of brain malformations on neuroimaging: an expert panel review
Ivana Pogledić, Kshitij Mankad, Mariasavina Severino, Tally Lerman‐Sagie, András Jakab, Efrat Hadi, Anna Jansen, Nadia Bahi‐Buisson, Natalya Di Donato, Renske Oegema, Christian Mitter, Ivan Čapo, Matthew T. Whitehead, Parthiv Haldipur, Grazia M.S. Mancini, Thierry A.G.M. Huisman, Andrea Righini, Bill Dobyns, James Barkovich, Nataša Jovanov Milošević, Gregor Kasprian, Maarten H. Lequin
Abstract
Brain malformations represent a heterogeneous group of abnormalities of neural morphogenesis, often associated with aberrations of neuronal connectivity and brain volume. Prenatal detection of brain malformations requires a clear understanding of embryology and developmental morphology through the various stages of gestation. This expert panel review is written with the central aim of providing an easy-to-understand road map to improve prenatal detection and characterization of structural malformations based on the current understanding of normal and aberrant brain development. For every developmental stage, the utility of each available neuroimaging modality, including prenatal multiplanar neuro sonography, anatomical MRI and advanced MRI techniques, as well as further insights from post-mortem imaging, has been highlighted.