ABSTRACT
Objective To study the capability of high field MRI in demonstrating the post-mortem fetal brains at different gestational age(GA).Methods One hundred and eight post-mortem fetal brains of 14-40 weeks GA were evaluated by 3.0 T MRI. Eleven brains of 14 to 27 weeks GA with good 3.0 T MRI images were chosen and scanned by 7.0 T MRI. The developing sulci, layered structures of fetal cerebral cortex and basal nuclei were evaluated on MRI of different Tesla(3.0 T and 7.0 T)and their results analyzed. Results On T_1 WI of 3.0 T MRI, the layered structures of fetal cerebral cortex were present at 14 weeks GA, the sulci were more accurately identified after 16 weeks GA. The basal nuclei were clearly distinguishable after 20 weeks GA. and these structures were better visualized as the GA increased. On T_2WI of 7.0 T MRI, the sulei, layered structures of fetal cerebral cortex and basal nuclei were shown more clearly at the same GA when compared to 3.0 T, especially the sulci at the early developmental stages. Conclusions T_1 WI of 3.0 T MRI could show the developing structures of post-mortem fetal brain well, but the T_2 WI of 7.0 T MRI were comparatively better.