Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/How We Do It/The Past, the Present and the Future of Fetal Imaging

The Past, the Present and the Future of Fetal Imaging

The Past, the Present and the Future of Fetal Imaging
June 5, 2020
0 Comments
By: Glenn Miñano

When I was in medical school, I remember learning about different illnesses and how to treat them. However, I learned, or better to say, I knew very little compared to what I know now about fetal imaging and things that can be done for babies in need of help to survive in the womb, during the process of birth, or afterward. It seems to me that it was not long ago, but in fact, it has been decades! Many things have changed since then thanks to research and progress in technology.

Image: Ultrasound power doppler depicting flow to the mass

Yes, research is so important! Research allows the development of new technology and all the studies needed to confirm their safety and subsequently all their applications. Now we can make use of 3D/4D fetal ultrasound and fetal MRI to better detect those problems. In addition, fetal surgeons and maternal-fetal medicine specialists have access to improved or new technology to perform treatments even while the baby, or babies in the case of multiple pregnancies, are still in the womb.

Image: 3D image showing mass arising from sacral area of spine.
Image: MRI of fetus and mass

With better images, it is not only easier to make a diagnosis, but also easier to explain a problem to parents and to all medical specialists involved during counseling and planning for treatments. And how do we get those images if the babies are moving? Technology is only part of it. Our highly skilled fetal sonographers and MRI technologists are able to obtain those images with patience and knowledge. I have such a great appreciation for their work! Thanks to them we are able to obtain the most detailed information and make more precise diagnosis. They work in our department and also assist in the operating room during those surgical procedures. They help calm moms dealing with claustrophobia or other needs during their exam, they image patients in need of urgent evaluation even when the schedule is fully packed, and they work in the post-processing imaging lab obtaining measurements and calculations essential during counseling. They are key and essential members in this field that have been called Fetology, a branch of medical science concerned with the study and treatment of the baby before it is born. However, we should not forget our MRI coordinators and their diligent and efficient work behind the scenes that make it possible for all these complex imaging appointments to run smoothly even when urgencies or rearrangements are added.

The future for the field of fetal imaging will involve faster techniques with improved images that are easier to analyze. However, the spirit of teamwork and dedication among all members of the fetal imaging team will remain in the background and on the frontline, as it has always been!

Dr. Maria Calvo-Garcia, author; Glenn Miñano, BFA, editor; Meredith Towbin, copyeditor.

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

Happy New Year 2023!
Happy New Year 2023!
New Employees Joins Our IRC Group
New Employees Joins Our IRC Group
Getting back to normal this holiday season
Getting back to normal this holiday season
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas 2022!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas 2022!
TAGS:
  • fetal mri
  • Maria A. Calvo Garcia
  • radiology
Avatar photo

About the author: Glenn Miñano

Glenn Miñano is a media specialist in the Department of Radiology, providing graphic design, photography, printing, video services, and administration of the department’s online properties. His works have been published in several medical articles, such as the American Journal of Radiology and the American Institute of Ultrasound. He has been providing these services to the Radiology Department since 1996.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 1.8k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.4k views
  • Febrile Seizures: Why They Happen and What to Do 762 views
  • Bedwetting Solutions: Tips for Helping Your Child Overcome It 721 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 698 views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 676 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center