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The occipitocervical junction comprises of the occiput condyles, the atlas, and the axis. The radiological evaluation of this region is supported by craniometric measurement methods which are based on predefined anatomical landmarks. The main pathologies of the occipitocervical junction are traumatic injuries, congenital anomalies or normal variants, infections, arthropathies, and tumors. In this article, the anatomy of the occipitocervical junction as well as the most important craniometric measurement methods are explained. Moreover various pathologies and similar appearing normal variants are presented.

Clinical/methodical Issue: Evaluation and confirmation of fetal pathologies previously suspected or diagnosed with ultrasound., Standard Radiological Methods: Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)., Methodical Innovations: Technique for prenatal fetal examination., Performance: Fetal MRI is an established supplementary technique to prenatal ultrasound., Achievements: Fetal MRI should only be used as an additional method in prenatal diagnostics and not for routine screening., Practical Recommendations: Fetal MRI should only be performed in perinatal medicine centers after a previous level III ultrasound examination.

Clinical/methodical Issue: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of fetal thoracic and abdominal malformations., Standard Radiological Methods: Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)., Methodical Innovations: In cases of suspected pathologies based on fetal ultrasound MRI can be used for more detailed examinations and can be of assistance in the differential diagnostic process., Performance: Improved imaging of anatomical structures and of the composition of different tissues by the use of different MRI sequences., Achievements: Fetal MRI has become a part of clinical routine in thoracic and abdominal malformations and is the basis for scientific research in this field., Practical Recommendations: In cases of thoracic or abdominal malformations fetal MRI provides important information additional to ultrasound to improve diagnostic accuracy, prognostic evaluation and surgical planning.