Fig. 2

Virtopsy and autopsy findings of two exemplary foetal cases with and without structural abnormalities. A Post-mortem computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a 22 weeks foetus with pentalogy of Cantrell. A1 CT—cinematic rendered reconstruction of skeletal appearance. A2 and A3 MRI—T1 inversion recovery and T2 turbo spin echo coronal views: exomphalos with herniation of liver (red asterisk). Herniation of small bowel loops through an absent diaphragmatic portion of the pericardium into the pericardium (green asterisk). A4 MRI—T2 turbo spin echo transversal view: herniation of small bowel loops into the pericardium (green asterisk). A5 thoraco-abdominal autopsy—reduction of bowel loops (black asterisk) through the anterior pericardial defect (black arrow) into the abdomen. B Post-mortem CT and MRI of a 20 weeks foetus without structural abnormalities born after premature rupture of membranes and uterine contractions. B1 CT—cinematic rendered reconstruction of skeletal appearance. B2 CT—soft kernel transversal view: poor soft tissue contrast in the foetal population, making assessment of the thoracic and abdominal organs almost impossible. B3 MRI—T2 turbo spin echo transversal view: better contrast and clearer differentiation of the foetal intra-thoracic organs. B4 CT—guided biopsy: haematoxylin and eosin staining with evidence of inflammatory cell infiltrates in the lung