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Transabdominal power Doppler sonography of the normal early placenta
R O Bude1, C J van deVen, J M Rubin
1Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0326, USA. ronbude@umich.edu
Objective:
To evaluate how well transabdominal power Doppler sonography, a new method of colour Doppler sonography, visualizes the vasculature of the early placenta.
Methods:
Evaluation of intrachorionic/intraplacental vasculature in 15 normal, singleton gestations of 8 to 18 weeks.
Results:
Intrachorionic/intraplacental vessels were identified in all gestations, except the earliest (8 weeks). The number of vessels detected increased with increasing gestational age. Intrachorionic/intraplacental Doppler waveforms of maternal arterial origin were identified in gestations of 8.5, 9.5, and 11.5 weeks.
Conclusions:
Transabdominal power Doppler sonography detects intrachorionic/intraplacental vasculature at least as early as 8.5 weeks. Intervillous arterial flow of maternal origin is present in the first trimester, confirming the results of a recent transvaginal colour Doppler sonographic study, and contradicting earlier studies suggesting that such flow is not present in the first trimester.