<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_raon-2018-0024_s_005">
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>In this prospective cohort study, we examined the utility of elastography to evaluate the fetus and placenta.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_raon-2018-0024_s_006">
<h3>Patients and methods</h3>
<p>Pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, by which time the placenta has formed, were included in this study. A total of 111 women underwent ultrasound examinations, including elastography. Elastographic evaluation was performed using two protocols. First, the placental index (PI) was measured, which quantitatively assesses the hardness of tissue. Second, regions of interest (ROI) were categorized into 3-step scores according to the frequency of the blue area (hardness of placental tissue score [HT score]), which is a qualitative method. After delivery, 40 of the 111 placentas were pathologically examined.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_raon-2018-0024_s_007">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>The average PI was 44.3 (± 29.4) in the <italic>in utero</italic> SGA group, which was significantly higher than that in the normal group (8.8 (± 10.0); <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) during pregnancy. There was a significant correlation between the PI and z score for estimated fetal weight (EFW) (<italic>r</italic> = -0.55; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between the PI and the z score of birth weight (<italic>r</italic> = -0.39; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Pathological ischemia findings of the placenta were identified in 67% of the HT score 3 group, representing 6 of the 9 patients, and in 20% of the HT score 1 group, representing only 3 of the 15 patients.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_raon-2018-0024_s_008">
<h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Placental hardness, as determined by elastography, correlates with both lower estimated fetal body weight and birth weight. These results suggest that ultrasound elastography in the placenta may be an additional marker of intrauterine fetal well-being.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Background
In this prospective cohort study, we examined the utility of elastography to evaluate the fetus and placenta.

Patients and methods
Pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, by which time the placenta has formed, were included in this study. A total of 111 women underwent ultrasound examinations, including elastography. Elastographic evaluation was performed using two protocols. First, the placental index (PI) was measured, which quantitatively assesses the hardness of tissue. Second, regions of interest (ROI) were categorized into 3-step scores according to the frequency of the blue area (hardness of placental tissue score [HT score]), which is a qualitative method. After delivery, 40 of the 111 placentas were pathologically examined.

Results
The average PI was 44.3 (± 29.4) in the in utero SGA group, which was significantly higher than that in the normal group (8.8 (± 10.0); p < 0.01) during pregnancy. There was a significant correlation between the PI and z score for estimated fetal weight (EFW) (r = -0.55; p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between the PI and the z score of birth weight (r = -0.39; p < 0.01). Pathological ischemia findings of the placenta were identified in 67% of the HT score 3 group, representing 6 of the 9 patients, and in 20% of the HT score 1 group, representing only 3 of the 15 patients.

Conclusions
Placental hardness, as determined by elastography, correlates with both lower estimated fetal body weight and birth weight. These results suggest that ultrasound elastography in the placenta may be an additional marker of intrauterine fetal well-being.

Ultrasound elastography can detect placental tissue abnormalities

Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center

Radiology and Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Ultrasound elastography can detect placental tissue abnormalities"}

Background
In this prospective cohort study, we examined the utility of elastography to evaluate the fetus and placenta.

Patients and methods
Pregnant women...

Ultrasound elastography can detect placental tissue abnormalities

Article Category: Research Article

Pubblicato online: 06 giu 2018

Pagine: 129 - 135

Ricevuto: 20 nov 2017

Accettato: 23 apr 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2018-0024

© 2018 Tomoya Hasegawa, Naoaki Kuji, Fumiaki Notake, Tetsu Tsukamoto, Toru Sasaki, Motohiro Shimizu, Kazunori Mukaida, Hiroe Ito, Keiichi Isaka, Hirotaka Nishi, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.