Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an ubiquitous pathogen, with a high worldwide seroprevalence. When acquired in the prenatal period, congenital CMV (cCMV) is a major cause of neurodevelopmental sequelae and hearing loss. cCMV remains an underdiagnosed condition, with no systematic screening implemented in pregnancy or in the postnatal period. Therefore, imaging takes a prominent role in prenatal diagnosis of cCMV. With the prospect of new viable therapies, accurate and timely diagnosis becomes paramount, as well as identification of fetuses at risk for neurodevelopmental sequelae. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a complementary method to ultrasound (US) in fetal brain and body imaging. Anterior temporal lobe lesions are the most specific finding, and MRI is superior to US in their detection. Other findings such as ventriculomegaly, cortical malformations and calcifications, as well as hepatosplenomegaly, liver signal changes and abnormal effusions are unspecific. However, when seen in combination these should raise the suspicion of fetal infection, highlighting the need for a full fetal assessment. Still, some fetuses deemed normal on prenatal imaging are symptomatic at birth or develop delayed cCMV‐associated symptoms, leaving room for improvement of diagnostic tools. Advanced MR sequences may help in this field and in determining prognosis, but further studies are needed.

Fetal MR now plays an important role in the clinical work-up of pregnant females. It is performed mainly at 1.5 T. However, the desire to obtain a more precise fetal depiction or the fact that some institutions have access only to a 3.0 T scanner has resulted in a growing interest in performing fetal MR at 3.0 T. The aim of this article was to provide a reference for the use of 3.0 T MRI as a prenatal diagnostic method.

SUMMARY: Scleritis is a rare, underdiagnosed vision-threatening condition that can occur isolated or in association with other orbital abnormalities. The etiology of scleritis is mainly inflammatory noninfectious, either idiopathic or in the context of systemic disease. Ultrasonography remains the criterion standard in diagnostic imaging of this condition but might prove insufficient, and studies on the diagnostic value of CT and MR imaging are lacking. We retrospectively analyzed 11 cases of scleritis in which CT and/or MR imaging were performed during the active phase of disease and assessed the diagnostic utility of these techniques. The most important imaging findings of scleritis were scleral enhancement, scleral thickening, and focal periscleral cellulitis. MR imaging is the recommended imaging technique, though posterior scleritis also can be accurately diagnosed on CT. It is important for the radiologist to be acquainted with these findings because being able to diagnose scleritis is of clinical significance and might be vision-saving.

The software “SyMRI” generates different MR contrasts and characterizes tissue properties based on a single acquisition of a multi-dynamic multi-echo (MDME)-FLAIR sequence. The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of “SyMRI” in the assessment of myelination in preterm and term-born neonates. Furthermore, “SyMRI” was compared with conventional MRI.

Objectives: To characterize spatiotemporal growth differences of prenatal brainstem substructures and cerebellum, using linear biometry and planimetry on fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods: In this retrospective study, we included fetuses with normal brain and a precise midsagittal T2‐weighted brain MRI sequence obtained between May 2003 and April 2019. The cross‐sectional area, rostrocaudal diameter and anteroposterior diameter of the midbrain, pons (basis pontis and pontine tegmentum), medulla oblongata and cerebellar vermis, as well as the transverse cerebellar diameter, were quantified by a single observer. The diameters were also assessed by a second observer to test inter‐rater variability.Results: We included 161 fetuses with normal brain and a precise midsagittal MRI sequence, examined at a mean ± SD gestational age of 25.7 ± 5.4 (range, 14 + 0 to 39 + 2) weeks. All substructures of the fetal brainstem and the cerebellum could be measured consistently (mean ± SD interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.933 ± 0.065). We provide reference data for diameters and areas of the brainstem and cerebellum in the second and third trimesters. There was a significant quadratic relationship between vermian area and gestational age, and all other measured parameters showed a significant linear growth pattern within the observed period (P < 0.001). A significant change in the relative proportions of the brainstem substructures occurred between the beginning of the second trimester and the end of the third trimester, with an increase in the area of the pons (P < 0.001) and a decrease in that of the midbrain (P < 0.001), relative to the total brainstem area.Conclusions: The substructures of the fetal brainstem follow a distinct spatiotemporal growth pattern, characterized by a relative increase in the pons and decrease in the midbrain, between 15 and 40 weeks of gestation. Caution is needed when interpreting fetal brainstem appearance during the early second trimester, as the brainstem proportions differ significantly from the adult morphology. The reference data provided herein should help to increase diagnostic accuracy in detecting disorders of defective hindbrain segmentation. © 2020 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.