Placental scanning with computer-linked gamma camera to detect impaired placental blood flow and intrauterine growth retardation.

By retrospective analysis of 65 placental localization studies by a computer-linked gamma camera the isotope studies by a computer-linked gamma camera the isotope uptake patterns were correlated with the eventual outcome of the pregnancies. The uptakes by anterior and lateral placentae were reduced in pregnancies which resulted in growth-retarded babies and statistically unrelated to the gestation of the pregnancy. This simple representation of placental blood flow could be a clinically useful index of placental function.