Anatomical and diffusion-weighted imaging of brain abnormalities in third-trimester fetuses with cytomegalovirus infection.

Ultrasound and MRI are complementary during the third trimester in the assessment of brain abnormalities in CMV-infected fetuses, with a significant correlation between the grading systems of the two modalities. On DWI in the third trimester, the ADC values in several brain regions are abnormal in CMV-infected fetuses compared with normal controls. Furthermore, they seem to correlate in the temporal area and, to a lesser extent, frontal area with the severity of brain abnormalities associated with CMV infection. Larger prospective studies are needed for further investigation of the microscopic nature of diffusion abnormalities and correlation of different imaging findings with postnatal outcome. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.