Résumé
Objective: This study involved very early post‐mortem (PM) examination of human fetal anatomy at 8 weeks of gestation (WG) using whole‐body multimodal micro‐imaging: micro‐CT and high‐field MRI (HF‐MRI). We discuss the potential place of this imaging in early first‐trimester virtual autopsy. Methods: We performed micro‐CT after different contrast‐bath protocols including diffusible iodine‐based contrast‐enhanced (dice) and HF‐MRI with a 9.4 T machine with qualitative and quantitative evaluation and obtained histological sections. Results: Nine fetuses were included: the crown–rump length was 10–24 mm and corresponded to 7 and 9 WG according to the Robinson formula. The Carnegie stages were 17–21. Dice micro‐CT and HF‐MRI presented high signal to noise ratio, >5, according to the Rose criterion, and for allowed anatomical phenotyping in these specimens. Imaging did not alter the histology, allowing immunostaining and pathological examination. Conclusion: PM non‐destructive whole‐body multimodal micro‐imaging: dice micro‐CT and HF‐MRI allows for PM human fetal anatomy study as early as 8 WG. It paves the way to virtual autopsy in the very early first trimester. Obtaining a precision phenotype, even regarding miscarriage products, allows a reverse phenotyping to select variants of interest in genome‐wide analysis, offering potential genetic counseling for bereaved parents.