Fetal brain MRI analysis: Towards clinical translation and impact

While slice-to-volume registration and super-resolution reconstruction laid the foundation for motion-corrected 3D T2-weighted fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more than two decades ago, advances in deep learning are now enabling automation across acquisition planning, segmentation, biometry, and image quality control. In this narrative review, we highlight these emerging techniques and analyse their strengths and limitations in the context of clinical translation. We examine the major barriers to widespread clinical adoption of artificial intelligence tools and outline future directions at the clinical interface that may further transform the diagnostic role of fetal MRI. Together, these developments underscore a shifting landscape towards more comprehensive, quantitative in-utero assessment, with the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and workflow efficiency, and broaden the clinical applications of fetal MRI in prenatal care.

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Publication Details

Journal
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Published
2026-08-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.70460
Primary Topic
Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Fetal brain MRI analysis: Towards clinical translation and impact

Aysha Luis, Mary Rutherford, Alena Uus, Lisa Story
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
article

Fetal brain MRI analysis: Towards clinical translation and impact

Aysha Luis, Mary Rutherford, Alena Uus, Lisa Story
article en

Abstract

While slice-to-volume registration and super-resolution reconstruction laid the foundation for motion-corrected 3D T2-weighted fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more than two decades ago, advances in deep learning are now enabling automation across acquisition planning, segmentation, biometry, and image quality control. In this narrative review, we highlight these emerging techniques and analyse their strengths and limitations in the context of clinical translation. We examine the major barriers to widespread clinical adoption of artificial intelligence tools and outline future directions at the clinical interface that may further transform the diagnostic role of fetal MRI. Together, these developments underscore a shifting landscape towards more comprehensive, quantitative in-utero assessment, with the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and workflow efficiency, and broaden the clinical applications of fetal MRI in prenatal care.

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
King's College London (GB), Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Barts Health NHS Trust (GB), King's College School (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
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