Analysis of fetal MRI data reveals no effect on liver maturation following prenatal alcohol exposure
Question Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to morphological and neurocognitive changes in the fetus. The effect on the fetal liver is unknown. Findings No differences in fetal liver volume or signal intensity were found regarding alcohol exposure. Texture-based radiomics analysis was unable to discern between the two groups. Clinical relevance Fetal MRI and radiomics analysis were unable to detect effects of alcohol exposure on the fetal liver. Aberrations of the fetal liver on MRI in patients with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure warrant investigation for other causes.
Authors
- Victor Ulrich Schmidbauer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3599-1436)
- Patric Kienast (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6407-9561)
- Marlene Stuempflen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9763-9422)
- Caroline Schwarz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7762-7483)
- Gregor J. Kasprian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3858-3347)
- Michael Schwarz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6615-1416)
- Tim Dorittke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9121-3401)
- Thomas Reiberger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4590-3583)
- Martin L. Watzenboeck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9445-3331)
- Dr Daniela Prayer
- Felix R. M. Koenig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6774-5469)
- Rebecca Z. Sokol
- J. Binder
- Katharina Tontsch
Institutions
- Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten (AT)
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- European Radiology
- Published
- 2026-03-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-026-12461-3
- Primary Topic
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00