Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42333611›Full record

ArticlePrenatal diagnosis2026

Fetal Brain Abnormalities Following Laser Surgery for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: Imaging Patterns and Evolution.

Yada Kunpalin, Elka Miller, Ingrid Larsen, Kamini Raghuram, Catherine Windrim, Nimrah Abbasi, Greg Ryan, Tim Van Mieghem, Shiri Shinar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Prenatal diagnosis, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yada KunpalinFetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7388-1414
Elka MillerOntario Fetal Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1075-5952
Ingrid LarsenFetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Kamini RaghuramOntario Fetal Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Catherine WindrimFetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nimrah AbbasiFetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Greg RyanFetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Tim Van MieghemFetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Shiri ShinarFetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6352-4846

Funding

CIHRmerit award from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSevere brain injury has been reported following fetoscopic laser ablation (FLA) for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), but imaging patterns and temporal evolution remain poorly defined. This study aimed to characterize the progression of severe brain injury after FLA.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective case series of TTTS pregnancies with severe brain injury identified after FLA at the Ontario Fetal Center (June 2023-March 2025). FLA was performed for Quintero stage ≥ II and selected stage I cases. Severe abnormalities were defined as severe intraventricular haemorrhage or destructive lesions. Serial ultrasound and fetal MRI were reviewed and categorized as early (< 4 weeks) or late (≥ 4 weeks) post-FLA.

resultsFifteen fetuses from 14 pregnancies were identified. Mean gestational age at FLA was 19.7 ± 3.2 weeks; 66.7% were stage III-IV and 60% were donor twins. Early imaging (n = 8) most commonly showed periventricular haemorrhagic infarction (62.5%) and cerebellar haemorrhage (25.0%). Late imaging (n = 13) predominantly demonstrated cerebral volume loss (76.9%), often involving the parietal lobes, with polymicrogyria (38.5%) and Wallerian degeneration (30.8%). Findings remained unchanged after 4 weeks.

conclusionBrain injury after FLA evolves from acute haemorrhagic/ischaemic insults to irreversible destructive changes. These preliminary findings suggest a consistent pattern of injury that warrants further prospective study.

Indexed as

BrainBrain InjuriesFetofetal TransfusionFetoscopyLaser TherapyAdultFemaleGestational AgeHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingPregnancyRetrospective StudiesUltrasonography, Prenatal

Identifiers

PMID42333611
PMCPMC13446517

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.