Objective    To analyze the image quality of magnetic resonance fetography with a single-shot thick-slab turbo spin-echo sequence

and to evaluate the potential of MRF in fetal magnetic resonance (MR) as an alternative to three-dimensional reconstructions.      Methods    From April 2006 to February 2008

164 pregnant women with 169 fetuses underwent MR examinations for various indications (18th to 40

+3

th gestational weeks)

on a 1.5 T unit using a phased-array body surface coil after informed consent. Using our conventional protocol

this included thin multislice T

2

-weighted HASTE

true-FIST sequence and T

1

-weighted 2D FLASH sequence. A single-shot thick-slab (20-100 mm) turbo spin-echo was added to our conventional protocol.     Results    All our conventional protocol and single-shot thick-slab turbo spin-echo were performed successfully. It displayed that 51 fetuses were with pathological changes of fluid-filled cavities

28 with pathological fluid accumulations

10 with cystic mass

15 with abnormal body surface

17 with cacomelia 16 with maternal nephrydrosis and 13 with cystic disease

and “shining”  through the fetal surface could be depicted. Pathological fluid accumulations could be delineated. There was no statistical difference of the quality of MRF among the groups of different gestational ages

fetal positions and amount of amniotic fluid (P0.05). Constructed defect due to motion and convolution

mothers’ overfilling bladder could degrade the image quality.     Conclusion    MRF with thick-slab method offers a general overview of fetal pathologic or anatomic structure that may be captured in one image. The combination of overall appearance and translucency provides a new look of the fetus. MRF can quickly be repeated to get images at different orientations and different view angles. It can be used as an alternative to 3D reconstructions.