Reproducibility of the study of placental vascularization by three-dimensional power Doppler.

Autor: L.T. Mercé, M.J. Barco, S. Bau
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Perinatal Medicine; May2004, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p228-233, 6p
Abstrakt: Aims: To assess the reproducibility of 3D power Doppler study of placental vascularization in order to establish its methodological bases for its further application in normal and pathological pregnancies. Methods: A prospective study was carried on 30 normal singleton pregnancies from 14 to 40 weeks. To evaluate placental vascularization 3D power Doppler was applied to obtain a placental biopsy. The spherical volume acquired was analyzed using the VOCAL imaging program. Two consecutive measurements were taken from each patient by a single observer, obtaining a total of 60 datasets. Placental volume (PV), Mean Gray (MG), Vascularization Index (VI), Flow Index (FI) and Vascularization Flow Index (VFI) were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and intraobserver agreement was evaluated. Results: PV and MG presented an ICC of 0.98 and 0.94 respectively, with differences approaching zero. All 3D power Doppler vascular indices (VI, FI and VFI) showed a correlation greater than 0.85, with a better intraobserver agreement for the flow indices (FI and VFI). Conclusions: Placental vascular biopsy through 3D power Doppler is a new and simple tool to routinely study placental vascularization in human pregnancy. Our results provide the validation of the technique demonstrating a good reproducibility of the 3D power Doppler parameters when applied to the study of the placental vascular tree in normal pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index