=================================== Fetal and Neonatal MRI Overview =================================== Fetal and Neonatal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are advanced diagnostic tools used to assess prenatal and early postnatal development, especially when ultrasound is inconclusive. MRI provides soft-tissue contrast and high-resolution 3D insights for precise evaluation of complex anatomy and pathology. Key Applications ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ **Fetal MRI** * Performed typically after 18 weeks of gestation * Offers superior visualization of the developing brain, lungs, and abdomen * Essential for evaluating congenital anomalies and placental abnormalities **Neonatal MRI** * Performed shortly after birth, especially in critically ill newborns * Crucial for identifying brain injuries such as Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) * Enables early assessment and monitoring of neurodevelopmental outcomes Imaging Challenges ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Both modalities face specific processing challenges related to motion, physiology, and acquisition constraints: **Fetal MRI:** Dominated by motion artifacts due to uncontrolled fetal movement, variable scanner positioning, and limited spatial resolution. **Neonatal MRI:** Affected by patient motion, immature myelination leading to reduced tissue contrast, and increased vulnerability to physiological instability. .. rubric:: Some References: * `Advances in Fetal Brain Imaging `_ * `Clinical Applications of Fetal MRI in the Brain `_ * `Altered Fetal Cerebral and Cerebellar Development in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome `_