OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the relevance of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging findings in the prenatal characterization and prognostic evaluation in cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen pregnant women (mean gestational age = 28.7 weeks) who had undergone ultrasonography for suspicion of fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia were assessed by means of magnetic resonance imaging on a 1.5 tesla equipment, following the standard protocol. Two radiologists evaluated the images and the findings were defined by consensus. RESULTS: Twelve fetuses had left diaphragmatic hernia and two, right diaphragmatic hernia. Ultrasonography showed the fetal liver inside the thorax of five fetuses (three with left diaphragmatic hernia, and two with right diaphragmatic hernia) and magnetic resonance imaging in eight fetuses (six with left diaphragmatic hernia, and two with right diaphragmatic hernia). Stomach and small bowel loop herniation was observed in all of the fetuses with left diaphragmatic hernia (n = 12) at both magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. Eight fetuses (seven with left diaphragmatic hernia and one with right diaphragmatic hernia) survived after surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are complementary imaging methods in the evaluation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Magnetic resonance imaging is a helpful diagnostic method complementary to ultrasonography for evaluation of the fetal liver positioning, considering its relevance as a prognostic factor in cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Keywords: Fetus, Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Ultrasonography, Magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at correlating ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three pregnant women between the 30th and 35th weeks of gestation were submitted to fetal magnetic resonance imaging because of previous ultrasonographic findings suggestive of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma. Subsequently, they were submitted to ultrasonography for correlation of the imaging findings. Tumors size, location, extent and content were evaluated both at magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. RESULTS: Findings regarding tumor location, size and content were similar for both methods. All the lesions were found in the sacrococcygeal region, with a mean size of 6.0 cm x 9.0 cm. As regards the tumors content, two of them were mixed solid-cystic, and one, entirely cystic. Magnetic resonance imaging was superior to ultrasonography in the evaluation of the exact tumor extent, accurately demonstrating pelvic involvement in all of the three cases. CONCLUSION: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging has showed to be a valuable adjunct to obstetric sonography in the evaluation of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma, because of its higher accuracy in the determination of these tumors extent and content, playing a significant role in the therapeutic planning and increasing the chances of cure for these fetuses.

Keywords: Fetus, Sacrococcygeal teratoma, Ultrasonography, Magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate three cases of cervical lymphangioma with magnetic resonance imaging and correlating with sonographic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three pregnant women between the 24th and 35th gestational weeks, with sonographic findings suggestive of fetal cystic hygroma, were submitted to magnetic resonance and subsequently to a new ultrasonography for correlation of imaging findings. Tumors size, location, content and extent were evaluated both at magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. RESULTS: Findings regarding tumor location, size and content were similar for both methods. All the lesions were found in the posterior and lateral cervical space. As regards the tumors content, two of the lesions were predominantly cystic, with thin septations, and the other was heterogeneous. Lesions extent and adjacent structures invasion were better characterized by magnetic resonance imaging, with appropriate demonstration of invasion of the pinna in one case and invasion of the superior mediastinum in another. CONCLUSION: Fetal magnetic resonance imaging can be a useful adjuvant to obstetric ultrasonography in cases of lymphangioma because of its higher accuracy in the determination of these tumors extent and adjacent structures invasion, allowing a better postnatal surgical planning.

Keywords: Fetus, Lymphangioma, Cystic hygroma, Ultrasonography, Fetal magnetic resonance imaging