Imaging of placental vasculature using three-dimensional ultrasound and color power Doppler: a preliminary study

Autor: C. Cantrell, Rebecca N. Baergen, Thomas R. Nelson, Dolores H. Pretorius, E. Pai
Rok vydání: 1998
Předmět:
Zdroj: Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 12:45-49
ISSN: 0960-7692
DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1998.12010045.x
Popis: Objective To assess placental vasculature using color power Doppler and three-dimensional ultrasound tech- niques. Subjects Fourteen normal patients and one patient with intrauterine growth restriction were recruited to the study. Methods Vessels were assessed with regard to, first, the number of vessels seen within the placenta, second, the branching pattern of the vessels within the placenta, third, the number of vessels seen along the surface of the placenta, and, last, the number of vessels seen in the mater- nal circulation. Results Our results show that the placental vessels seen with this technique correlate well with known anatomy. A progressive increase in the number of intraplacental vessels and the number of vascular branches observed was seen with increasing gestational age. Volume data review using three orthogonal planar images had two distinct advan- tages. First, they could be obtained from orientations not possible using two-dimensional ultrasound alone, and, second, they could be viewed in conjunction with volume- rendered images to allow for referencing and identification of specific vessels. Volume-rendered images were valuable in allowing the observer to acquire an improved overall understanding of placental anatomy. They also assisted the observer in following the continuity of vessels as they wrapped around and twisted through three-dimensional space. Stereo viewing was helpful in distinguishing over- lapping vessels.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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