Artificial Intelligence in Fetal MRI: Principles, Applications, Limitations, and Future Directions

Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2026 Mar 1;69(1):75-81. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000987. Epub 2025 Dec 24.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers solutions to overcome limitations of fetal MRI, including motion, low signal-to-noise ratio, and slice misregistration. This review summarizes current AI applications in fetal MRI, focusing on image enhancement, automated segmentation, quantitative analysis, and emerging multimodal approaches. AI improves reconstruction, denoising, motion correction, and volumetric assessment, and supports tasks such as gestational-age estimation and anomaly detection. However, most studies rely on small, single-center data sets with limited external validation. Robust multicenter data, standardized protocols, and transparent evaluation frameworks are required before AI can be reliably integrated into routine prenatal imaging.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; deep learning; fetal MRI; image segmentation; motion correction; prenatal diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Intelligence* / trends
  • Female
  • Fetus* / diagnostic imaging
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / trends
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis* / methods
  • Prenatal Diagnosis* / trends
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio