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. 2024 Jan;44(1):3-14.
doi: 10.1002/pd.6489. Epub 2023 Dec 31.

Micro-CT and high-field MRI for studying very early post-mortem human fetal anatomy at 8 weeks of gestation

Audrey Lamouroux  1   2   3   4   5 , Maïda Cardoso  3   5 , Célia Bottero  2   5 , Mathieu Gallo  5   6 , Martha Duraes  4   5   7   8 , Jennifer Salerno  2   5   9 , Martin Bertrand  5   10   11 , Valérie Rigau  5   6 , Florent Fuchs  5   8   12   13 , Eve Mousty  2   5 , David Genevieve  1   5   14 , Gérard Subsol  4   5 , Christophe Goze-Bac  3   5 , Guillaume Captier  4   5   7   15
Affiliations

Micro-CT and high-field MRI for studying very early post-mortem human fetal anatomy at 8 weeks of gestation

Audrey Lamouroux et al. Prenat Diagn. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: This study involved very early post-mortem (PM) examination of human fetal anatomy at 8 weeks of gestation (WG) using whole-body multimodal micro-imaging: micro-CT and high-field MRI (HF-MRI). We discuss the potential place of this imaging in early first-trimester virtual autopsy.

Methods: We performed micro-CT after different contrast-bath protocols including diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced (dice) and HF-MRI with a 9.4 T machine with qualitative and quantitative evaluation and obtained histological sections.

Results: Nine fetuses were included: the crown-rump length was 10-24 mm and corresponded to 7 and 9 WG according to the Robinson formula. The Carnegie stages were 17-21. Dice micro-CT and HF-MRI presented high signal to noise ratio, >5, according to the Rose criterion, and for allowed anatomical phenotyping in these specimens. Imaging did not alter the histology, allowing immunostaining and pathological examination.

Conclusion: PM non-destructive whole-body multimodal micro-imaging: dice micro-CT and HF-MRI allows for PM human fetal anatomy study as early as 8 WG. It paves the way to virtual autopsy in the very early first trimester. Obtaining a precision phenotype, even regarding miscarriage products, allows a reverse phenotyping to select variants of interest in genome-wide analysis, offering potential genetic counseling for bereaved parents.

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References

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