ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of prenatal MRI in fetal digestive tract atresia. Methods Prenatal MRI data of 24 fetuses with digestive tract atresia confirmed by postnatal surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The prenatal MRI features of fetal digestive tract atresia were observed in comparison with the surgical results. Results Among the 24 fetuses with digestive tract atresia, 5 fetuses were found with esophageal atresia, 2 were Vogt type IIIa, fetal stomach was not seen on T2WI, 3 were type IIIb, shrinkage of fetal stomach and presence of dilated pouch-like esophageal were displayed on T2WI. Duodenal atresia was noticed in 4 fetuses, and MRI showed "double bubble sign". Intestinal atresia was detected in 10 fetuses, 5 without comorbidities and 1 with jejunal atresia, T2WI showed uniform intestinal tube signal. Ileum atresia was found in 4 fetuses, and intestinal tube showed low mixed signal. One intestinal atresia fetus was found combined with intestinal duplication deformity, and 4 were found with meconium peritonitis. One fetal pyloric atresia combined with ileal atresia and colon atresia, manifested as gastric expansion on T2WI. Among the 4 fetuses with anal atresia, 3 were low-level atresia, characterized with meconium-sacral colonic sigmoid colon and rectal dilatation, and 1 fetus was median atresia, with poor developed colon, sigmoid colon and rectal lumen. Conclusion Prenatal MRI has certain value in diagnosis of fetal digestive tract atresia.