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Problems of Multiple Pregnancies Ultrasound and MRI

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Fetal MRI

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

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Abstract

The number of multiple births is increasing. This is due to assisted reproduction and maternal age. It is crucial for management and prognosis to differentiate between monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies by ultrasound in the first trimester. The outcome of multiple pregnancies is significantly worse compared to singleton pregnancies. Perinatal mortality is three to seven times higher, due to the higher incidence of preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, malformations, and to the complications specific for twin pregnancies. Management of twin pregnancies includes repeat ultrasound scans for screening for malformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and for assessing fetal growth and fetal circulation. Magnetic resonance imaging is used as additional tool from 18 weeks onward to further assess fetal malformations and placental pathology.

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Correspondence to Elisabeth Krampl-Bettelheim .

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Krampl-Bettelheim, E. (2010). Problems of Multiple Pregnancies Ultrasound and MRI. In: Prayer, D. (eds) Fetal MRI. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2010_120

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2010_120

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-73270-9

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