Developmental venous anomalies on fetal magnetic resonance imaging: prevalence and reproducible radiological…

Cohort studyPediatric radiology· Jul 2026

Developmental venous anomalies on fetal magnetic resonance imaging: prevalence and reproducible radiological phenotypes.

Stephanie Libzon, Moran Hausman-Kedem, Nira Schneebaum-Sender … Liat Ben Sira

RadiologyCohort studyDiagnosisQ1IF 2.2

Developmental venous anomalies were found in 0.46% of fetal MRI scans.

Developmental venous anomalies on fetal magnetic resonance imaging: prevalence and reproducible radiological phenotypes.

Stephanie Libzon … Liat Ben Sira

Pediatric radiology · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Radiology

Background

Developmental venous anomalies are the most common cerebral vascular malformations but remain underrecognized in fetuses.

Purpose

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of developmental venous anomalies on fetal MRI and characterize their distinctive MRI patterns.

Methods

A retrospective study of all fetal MRIs performed between January 2017 and June 2025.

n = 3,932 fetuses

0.46%

Results

0.46%

very rare, seen in fewer than 1 in 200 fetal scans

n = 3,932 fetuses

More results

Developmental venous anomalies were frontal in 10 (55.6%), parieto-occipital in 7 (38.9%), and parietal in 1 (5.6%); 14 (77.8%) were right-sided.

Deep drainage occurred in 8/18 (44.4%), superficial in 4/18 (22.2%), and mixed in 6/18 (33.3%).

Eight fetuses (44.4%) had a complicated developmental venous anomaly.

More results

Multiple developmental venous anomalies (3/18, 16.7%) were associated with varix thrombosis (2/3 vs 0/15, P=0.02).

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Conclusion

Fetal developmental venous anomalies demonstrate two reproducible MRI patterns that enable confident diagnosis and help in differentiating from hemorrhage and other vascular malformations.

Developmental venous anomalies on fetal magnetic resonance imaging: prevalence and reproducible radiological phenotypes.

Developmental venous anomalies on fetal magnetic resonance imaging: prevalence and reproducible radiological phenotypes.

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