In this paper the authors review the normal imaging appearance of the fetal gastrointestinal tract and patterns of fetal gastrointestinal tract obstruction. The authors include a detailed summary from esophagus to the rectum, including the expected pattern of meconium and small-bowel contents at different gestational ages. Common fetal gastrointestinal tract obstructions are reviewed with accompanying case examples, emphasizing the role of the meconium and bowel-caliber patterns in establishing differential diagnoses. This review also includes imaging pitfalls, complications of gastrointestinal tract obstruction, and implications for patient care.
Keywords: Abdomen; Bowel obstruction; Fetus; Gastrointestinal tract; Magnetic resonance imaging; Meconium.