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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2017; 15(05): 192-200
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604219
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Neuroimaging of Fetal Infection

Ashley J. Robinson
1   Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
2   Department of Clinical Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States
,
M. Ashraf Ederies
1   Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
2   Department of Clinical Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

10 April 2017

12 April 2017

Publication Date:
17 July 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Infection during pregnancy is common and the developing fetal brain is vulnerable to vertical transmission due to immaturity of the fetal immune system. Infection is a major cause of multiple organ abnormalities, including the neuraxis, due to the neurotropism of the infectious agents. This review sets out to give an overview of fetal infection, review the general principles of the nature and timing of the infectious insult with respect to outcomes, review the neuroimaging of infection by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and review the various pathogens involved, including the two most common, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma, and also other common viral and nonviral infections.

Keywords

Toxoplasma - cytomegalovirus - sensorineural hearing loss - human herpes virus - herpes simplex virus - fetal MRI - congenital zika virus - pseudo-TORCH
 

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