Nickie Andescavage1, Kushal Kapse2, Yuan-Chiao Lu2, Scott D Barnett2, Marni Jacobs3, Alexis C Gimovsky4, Homa Ahmadzia4, Jessica Quistorff2, Catherine Lopez2, Nicole Reinholdt Andersen2, Dorothy Bulas5, Catherine Limperopoulos6. 1. Division of Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. 2. Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. 3. Division of Biostatistics & Study Methodology, George Washington University School of Medicine, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC, 20037, USA. 4. Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. 5. Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA; Department of Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. 6. Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA; Department of Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. Electronic address: climpero@childrensnational.org.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: To characterize normative morphometric, textural and microstructural placental development by applying advanced and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) techniques to the in-vivo placenta. METHODS: We enrolled 195 women with uncomplicated, healthy singleton pregnancies in a prospective observational study. Women underwent MRI between 16- and 40-weeks' gestation. Morphometric and textural metrics of placental growth were calculated from T2-weighted (T2W) images, while measures of microstructural development were calculated from diffusion-weighted images (DWI). Normative tables and reference curves were constructed for each measured index across gestation and according to fetal sex. RESULTS: Data from 269 MRI studies from 169 pregnant women were included in the analyses. During the study period, placentas undergo significant increases in morphometric measures of volume, thickness, and elongation. Placental texture reveals increasing variability with advancing gestation as measured by grey level non uniformity, run length non uniformity and long run high grey level emphasis. Placental microstructure did not vary with gestational age. Placental elongation was the only metric that differed significantly between male and female fetuses. DISCUSSION: We report quantitative metrics of placental morphometry, texture and microstructure in a large cohort of healthy controls during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. These measures can serve as normative references of in-vivo placental development to better understand placental function in high-risk conditions and allow for the early detection of placental mal-development.
INTRODUCTION: To characterize normative morphometric, textural and microstructural placental development by applying advanced and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) techniques to the in-vivo placenta. METHODS: We enrolled 195 women with uncomplicated, healthy singleton pregnancies in a prospective observational study. Women underwent MRI between 16- and 40-weeks' gestation. Morphometric and textural metrics of placental growth were calculated from T2-weighted (T2W) images, while measures of microstructural development were calculated from diffusion-weighted images (DWI). Normative tables and reference curves were constructed for each measured index across gestation and according to fetal sex. RESULTS: Data from 269 MRI studies from 169 pregnant women were included in the analyses. During the study period, placentas undergo significant increases in morphometric measures of volume, thickness, and elongation. Placental texture reveals increasing variability with advancing gestation as measured by grey level non uniformity, run length non uniformity and long run high grey level emphasis. Placental microstructure did not vary with gestational age. Placental elongation was the only metric that differed significantly between male and female fetuses. DISCUSSION: We report quantitative metrics of placental morphometry, texture and microstructure in a large cohort of healthy controls during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. These measures can serve as normative references of in-vivo placental development to better understand placental function in high-risk conditions and allow for the early detection of placental mal-development.
Authors: Quyen N Do; Matthew A Lewis; Yin Xi; Ananth J Madhuranthakam; Sarah K Happe; Jodi S Dashe; Robert E Lenkinski; Ambereen Khan; Diane M Twickler Journal: J Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2019-08-09 Impact factor: 4.813
Authors: Alexa A Freedman; Carol J Hogue; Carmen J Marsit; Augustine Rajakumar; Alicia K Smith; Robert L Goldenberg; Donald J Dudley; George R Saade; Robert M Silver; Karen J Gibbins; Barbara J Stoll; Radek Bukowski; Carolyn Drews-Botsch Journal: Pediatr Dev Pathol Date: 2018-07-16