Estimated Placental Volume and Gestational Age

Area of Science:

• Perinatology
• Medical Imaging
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Placental volume assessment is crucial for monitoring fetal development.
• Estimated placental volume (EPV) offers a non-invasive method for evaluating placental size.
• Understanding EPV's relationship with gestational age (GA) is essential for its clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate estimated placental volume (EPV) measurements across a wide range of gestational ages (GAs).
• To establish a normative curve for EPV against GA.
• To explore the correlation between EPV and birth weight (BW).

Main Methods:

• Ultrasound scans were performed on 366 patients between 11 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days GA.
• A best-fit parabolic curve equation was generated for EPV versus GA.
• Subanalysis investigated the relationship between EPV and BW, including outlier cases.

Main Results:

• A parabolic curve best-fit equation for EPV versus GA was determined: EPV = (0.372 GA - 0.00364 GA^2)^3.
• EPV showed a weak correlation with BW.
• Patients with EPV in the bottom 50th percentile had 2.42 times the odds of having a BW in the bottom 50th percentile.

Conclusions:

• Placental volume follows a predictable parabolic trajectory throughout gestation, consistent with existing literature.
• EPV demonstrates potential as a clinical screening tool, although further validation is needed.
• Abnormal EPV measurements may indicate underlying placental pathology and impact fetal growth.