Spinal Imaging Findings of Open Spinal Dysraphisms on Fetal and Postnatal MRI

Sagittal balanced fast-field echo/FIESTA image from fetal MR imaging at 24 weeks' 5 days' gestational age (A) demonstrates findings of a lumbosacral myelomeningocele with the upper level of the spinal dysraphic defect beginning at L4. Sagittal T2-FSE image from postnatal MR imaging of the spine in the same patient at 20 days of age (B) shows postoperative changes from OSD closure, with the upper level of the defect again beginning at L4 (same level), with L3 having an intact neural arch (arrow).

Axial T2-single-shot FSE image through a 23 weeks' 3 days' gestational age fetus (A) with a myelocele demonstrates splitting of the neural placode (arrow), consistent with a type II split cord malformation. Axial balanced fast-field echo/FIESTA image from postnatal spine MR imaging of the same patient at 4 weeks of age confirms the prenatal findings of split cord malformation status post repair (arrow).