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Review
. 2019 Sep 1:84:32-36.
doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.379. Epub 2019 Jun 26.

Volume and vascularity: Using ultrasound to unlock the secrets of the first trimester placenta

S Mathewlynn  1 , S L Collins  2
Affiliations
Review

Volume and vascularity: Using ultrasound to unlock the secrets of the first trimester placenta

S Mathewlynn et al. Placenta. .

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Identifying which pregnancies are at risk of FGR facilitates enhanced surveillance and early delivery before fetal demise can ensue. However, existing risk stratification strategies yield an unacceptably low detection rate. A robust and reliable first trimester screening test for FGR would not only enable high-risk women to be appropriately monitored but would facilitate future trials for possible interventions to enhance fetal growth. Both the volume and vascularity of the first trimester placenta has been demonstrated to be linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes including FGR and pre-eclampsia. The investigation of novel ultrasound markers for FGR are discussed along with the development of methods for fully automatic placental volume estimation which has the potential for use as part of a multi-variable population-based screening test.

Keywords: Fetal growth restriction; Placental volume; Power Doppler; Screening; Stillbirth; Ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests

The authors have nothing to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An example of the same placenta segmented using the random walker algorithm (right) and the fully automated method OxNNet (left).
Figure 2
Figure 2
ROC curve comparing placental volumes derived using OxNNet and VOCAL™ (from Looney et al [41]).
Figure 3
Figure 3
3-D ultrasound image of with placenta, with the placenta segmented out In pale blue and vascularity recorded with power Doppler ultrasound in orange.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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